NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, FEB 7
Sending a strong message to ‘Thyagathalaivai’ and group who is calling the shots, properties owned by V N Sudhakaran and J Ilavarasi, close relatives of expelled AIADMK leader V K Sasikala and co-convicts in the case of an asset, in the city have been confiscated in compliance with a 2017 Supreme Court order, the Tamil Nadu government said on Sunday.
The action, announced a day ahead of Sasikala’s proposed return to the state after serving the four-year term in the case, applies to nearly 6,000 sq ft land and buildings with a constructed area of 4,300 sq ft plus in downtown Chennai.
Besides Sasikala, Sudhakaran and Ilavarasi were also sentenced to undergo four-year imprisonment by the apex court in February 2017. While Sasikala, a close aide of late chief minister Jayalalithaa, was released on January 27 after she completed her prison term, the other two are in jail and likely to complete their sentences soon. Sasikala is scheduled to return by road on Monday from Karnataka, after taking a rest following recovery from COVID-19.
With the confiscation, necessary changes have been effected in the records, and the properties are vested in the government now, Chennai District Collectorate said in an official release. The income from the properties, including rent and pending rent, would accrue to the government, the release said.
The properties confiscated are undivided share in land and ”additional buildings” on upscale Wallace Garden Street and a ground plus one house on posh TTK Road. These are owned by Lex Property Development Private Limited’s partners Sudhakaran and Ilavarasi.
The disproportionate assets case originally filed against Jayalalithaa and the three others for amassment of Rs 66.65 crore assets disproportionate to their known sources of income between 1991 and 1996.
The case was later transferred to Bengaluru. While the trial court in Bengaluru convicted all the four, the Karnataka High Court later acquitted them. The Supreme Court, allowing appeals challenging their acquittals, confirmed and restored the trial court order convicting Sasikala, Illavarasi and Sudhakaran, while abating appeals related to Jayalalithaa in view of her death in December, 2016.
Hosur Industries Association’s plea to its members
Meanwhile, in a WhatsApp message to the members, the Hosur Industries Association has advied industries to plan their schedule of transporting workers, materials to their factories ahead of Sasikala’s crossing Hosur, the entry point in TamilNadu from Karnataka.
The message from HIA Secretary says “Tomorrow (08-02-2021) morning Mrs.Sasikala is crossing HOSUR. Therefore DGP has ordered to ensure the staff buses and good vehicle to reach factories inside before 8:00 am. No traffic thereafter till she crosses. This arrangement is as per direction DGP stationed at Hosur. Highway connectivity will be blocked by police to avoid unnecessary incidents. 1500 police deployment will be there in every place. Employees and materials movement can be planned accordingly. No vehicle no movement from 8:00am to till she crosses. The above message is received from Inspector SIPCOT. please communicate to management and do the needful”, it added.
