Sasikala surrenders, jailed in Bengaluru

With relative, she steps into her cell at dusk

V K Sasikala, AIADMK leader, arrived from Chennai and surrendered before a special court here on Wednesday.

She will serve a four-year term for her role in an illegal wealth case, in which J Jayalalithaa, the late Tamil Nadu chief minister, was the main accused.

A chief ministerial aspirant till Tuesday, Sasikala’s dreams were dashed when the Supreme Court upheld a trial court conviction.

Two others from her family also surrendered on Tuesday — Elavarasi and V N Sudhakaran.

Sudhakaran, her son, arrived at the Bengaluru court an hour late. His counsel filed an application, apologising for the delay. Special court judge Ashwathanarayana completed the formalities.

Leaders with her

Sasikala entered Bengaluru at 5.15 pm and was escorted by the city police to the court at Parappana Agrahara central prison.

She was accompanied by several senior AIADMK leaders. She had travelled by road, making a few stops en route.

The judge held the proceedings about 100 ft from the entrance of the prison.

It was almost 6.30 pm when some 50 policemen escorted her and Elavarasi till the prison gates.

A prison official said Sasikala had opted to be with Elavarasi. They were sent to a cell on the first floor.

“Each cell has two or three prisoners. Their cell only houses Sasikala and Elavarasi. This is not a special cell, but a general one,” he said.

The Supreme Court had ordered Sasikala to undergo a sentence for four years. Since she has already served six months in judicial custody, she will have to remain in prison for three-and-a-half years.