Estranged AIADMK leader V K Sasikala. File photo
Expelled AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala has been granted parole for five days on Friday to visit her ailing husband in Chennai.
The disgraced confidante of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalitha is serving a four year term at the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison after being convicted in the disproportionate assets case.
Sasikala left the prison at 2.30 pm, jail officials told DH. She has to return to the jail on October 13. Her husband who had recently undergone a renal and liver transplant is reportedly recuperating at a private hospital in Chennai.
The parole was on strict conditions that she cannot visit anywhere other than the hospital where her husband is admitted or her house in Chennai. She is restricted from involving herself in any kind of political activity including talking with her supporters. Though she is allowed to speak to her relatives, she is refrained from speaking anything to media, a senior jail official told.
Sasikala had applied for a two-week parole with the prison authorities. Her first application was rejected earlier as she had not furnished appropriate documents of her husband's medical conditions. Two days ago, Sasikala had applied again for a 15-day parole after submitting requisite medical documents along with details and stages of her pending cases.
The prison authorities after scrutinising and verifying all documents granted her a 5-day parole on Friday afternoon. However, prison sources also hinted that the parole duration could vary depending on the Tamil Nadu government's recommendation too.
Prison sources claimed they have received an email that they were awaiting from the Chennai police commissioner who have agreed for her parole, but with a few conditions.
After it was decided that she be sent on parole, both the states' police were busy discussing and reviewing her security arrangements both in Karnataka and in Tamil Nadu and during her transit too.
Karnataka prison authorities have received a no-objection letter from Chennai police with regards to her security arrangements.
Sasikala's nephew T T V Dhinakaran had reached Parappana Agrahara on Thursday (October 6) night and received her while she was released on Friday.
A large number of Sasikala supporters were seen before the Parappana Agrahara central prison while she was moving out of jail by road to Chennai.