Transfer of J. Jayalalithaa's Confiscated Valuables to Tamil Nadu Government Commences
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Synopsis
The process of transferring the confiscated assets of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa to the Tamil Nadu government has begun, as per a Special Court in Bengaluru. The assets include a vast collection of jewellery, sarees, and other valuables, with legal disputes ongoing regarding ownership.
Key Takeaways
- Bengaluru court initiates asset transfer.
- Seized valuables include 11,344 silk sarees and 468 ornaments.
- Legal disputes persist regarding ownership of assets.
- The Supreme Court has dismissed family appeals for the return of properties.
- Transfer process expected to conclude by February 15.
Bengaluru, February 14 (NationPress) A Special Court in Bengaluru has initiated the transfer of confiscated assets, including jewellery and other valuables, that belonged to the late former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J. Jayalalithaa, an official confirmed on Friday.
The assets being handed over include property documents, 11,344 silk sarees, 468 gold and diamond ornaments totaling 7,040 grams, 750 pairs of sandals, watches, and various other valuables.
The inventory also comprises 250 shawls, 12 refrigerators, 10 television sets, 8 VCRs, one video camera, 4 CD players, 2 audio decks, 24 tape recorders, 1,040 video cassettes, and five iron lockers.
These items were confiscated by authorities as part of the ongoing investigation into the disproportionate assets case.
A delegation of officials, along with police personnel from Tamil Nadu, has reached Bengaluru to finalize the transfer and take possession of the assets.
All items will be given to the Tamil Nadu government.
The Special Court had scheduled the handover of Jayalalithaa's jewellery and other valuables for February 14, 2024, and instructed the Tamil Nadu government to send officers for the acquisition of the seized items.
However, Jayalalithaa's niece and nephew, J. Deepa and J. Deepak, who assert ownership of the confiscated assets, submitted an appeal to the Karnataka High Court. The High Court initially stayed the lower court’s order but later dismissed the petition.
On the same day, the Supreme Court rejected the appeal by Deepa and Deepak for the return of the seized properties, clarifying that the abatement of proceedings does not equate to an acquittal. The bench led by Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma delivered this verdict.
Sources indicate that the Tamil Nadu team aims to finalize the transfer by either Friday (February 14) or Saturday (February 15).
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids related to Jayalalithaa in 1996, with a charge sheet filed in 1997. Jayalalithaa passed away in 2016.
The court had earlier determined that Jayalalithaa's family has no claim to the assets seized by the state.
On September 27, 2014, the Special Court in Bengaluru sentenced Jayalalithaa to four years in prison, imposing a fine of Rs 100 crore.
RTI activist T. Narasimha Murthy filed a request for compensation for the expenses incurred by the Karnataka government related to this case through the auction of the confiscated items.
The court dismissed the idea of an auction and mandated the transfer of the seized items to the Tamil Nadu government.
