State to appeal in SC against Jaya acquittal

'No delay, govt had 90 days to move'

The State government on Monday finally decided to challenge the Karnataka High Court verdict acquitting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha and three others in a disproportionate assets case in the Supreme Court.

The Cabinet decision follows the advice tendered by the law department, Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) B V Acharya and Advocate General Ravi Verma Kumar.

Jayalalitha now faces a fresh legal challenge days after she was sworn-in as chief minister of Tamil Nadu for the fifth time following her acquittal.

The high court had on May 11 set aside a trial court verdict sentencing Jayalalitha and three others to four years imprisonment.

The State government was dithering over taking a decision on filing an appeal.

Law Minister T B Jayachandra, however, rubbished reports that the State government was delaying a decision and said that it had 90 days to file an appeal.

Jayachandra said that Acharya, Kumar and the law department report had all concurred that it was a fit case for appeal in the Supreme Court.

Acharya will continue as the SPP and advocate Sandesh Chowta will assist him. The process of filing the appeal will commence immediately, he added.

No bus services to TN till noon

KSRTC has suspend all its services to Tamil Nadu (TN) till Tuesday noon as a precautionary measure, reports DHNS. Resumption of services will depend on the prevailing situation on Tuesday, officials said.

Passengers who have obtained advance tickets will get a refund. KSRTC operates 417 services between the two states and buses cross over into TN at three points–Chittoor, Hosur and Gundlupet.