Former AIADMK leader VK Sasikala freed after completing the 4-year sentence

Last updated on February 16th, 2021 at 06:38 am

On Wednesday morning, former AIADMK leader VK Sasikala was released from Parapana Agrahara prison in Bengaluru after completing a 4-year sentence for a corruption case. Currently, she has been kept in Victoria Hospital, where she would be treated for the coronavirus infection. The authorities added that the expelled AIADMK leader would continue to receive protection from Karnataka Police till the time she stayed in the state.

Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, which released medical stats of Sasikala, reported that at the time of her release she was “conscious, alert and well oriented”. The report added that her pulse rate was 76/minute and blood pressure was 166/86 mmHg. Though it is not clear when she would be discharged from the hospital. The hospital’s health bulletin said, “The decision for her to continue treatment in Victoria Hospital has been taken by her and her family members.”

After she was moved to the hospital, huge crowd of people started gathering outside the hospital, raising slogans in her support and distributing sweets as a mark of celebration. She tested Covid-19 positive just six days before her release date. “We are all happy that our beloved Chinamma has been released.  I want to tell you this, that is why I have come here. Now, we will discuss with doctors when she will be discharged. After the advice of doctors only, we will make a decision. Today, I don’t want to talk politics. After doctors’ advice, we will decide when to take her to Tamil Nadu,” said TTV Dhinakaran, Sasikala’s nephew and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary.

Sasikala was imprisoned in 2017 in ₹ 66 crore disproportionate assets case. Besides her, Jayalalithaa was also among one of the prime accused. Along with Sasikala, her sister-in-law J Ilavarasi and Jayalalithaa’s foster son VN Sudhakaran were also convicted for the same case.

Amid her release, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami unveiled the state’s former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s memorial, worth ₹79 crores, along Chennai’s Marina Beach on Wednesday. The event was attended by Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvan, AIADMK functionaries, members, and the public.