BENGALURU: A special court in Bengaluru on Thursday deducted 89 days of imprisonment from the four-year jail term of VN Sudhakaran, foster son of late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa. He was convicted in a disproportionate assets case.
The court announced that he could walk free any time after paying the fine amount of Rs 10 crore. The deductions were made from days he spent in Tamil Nadu prisons in the same DA case during 2001.
Sudhakaran, convicted with former AIDMK secretary VK Sasikala and her close relative J Ilavarasi, was set to walk out of Bengaluru prison on January 14, 2021. The three had gone into the prison on February 15, 2017. All three were awarded four years imprisonment and fine of Rs 10 crore and Rs 10,000 each. Failure to pay the fine would extend the jail term for one year. Sasikala has already paid the fine.
Murthy Rao, appearing for Sudhakaran, told mediapersons the fine of Rs 10 crore would be paid by Monday or Tuesday. “After paying the fine and getting an acknowledgement, we’ll communicate it to prison officials at Parappana Agrahara. If all goes well, Sudhakaran should walk out by next Tuesday or Wednesday,” he said.
On September 8 this year, Sudhakaran’s advocates approached the court, seeking an early release. “We had contended that, in the same DA case, Sudhakaran had spent around 92 days in different prisons of Tamil Nadu and this had not been taken into account while fixing his jail stay post-conviction. Accepting our plea, the court has deducted 89 days” another advocate told TOI.
Officials at Central Prison said: “Yes, we’re aware of the development. However, we have to wait until the court orders reach us.” A source in the home department said no decision has been made on Sasikala’s early release. She had approached the government saying she should be released early after deducting 135 days of ‘remission’ counted into her prison days. The file is still with the government. On November 18, Sasikala’s advocates had paid her part of fine amount.