Sasikala applies for remission, early release from jail
Bengaluru: Late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's close aide V K Sasikala, serving a four-year jail term on graft charges, has sought remission and early release from prison, official sources said on Wednesday.
Sasikala, lodged at the Parappana Agrahara prison here, is expected to come out on January 27, 2021, after she deposited a Rs 10 crore fine at a special court.
However, she has applied for the remission of her jail term to come out early, sources close to the leader told PTI.
The prison authorities have forwarded her application to higher officials.
"She has applied for the remission of her jail term and it has been forwarded to the head of the department for their consideration," a source said.
Authorities are yet to take a call on it.
After the Supreme Court restored the trial court judgment in toto against Sasikala and two of her close relatives in the disproportionate assets case, she surrendered before the court in Karnataka on February 15, 2017 and has been lodged in Parappana Agrahara Central Jail since then.
Her two relatives are also undergoing four years of simple imprisonment and all three of them were slapped with a fine of Rs 10 crore each.
With the death of Jayalalithaa in 2016, who was the first accused in the case, the appeal by Karnataka against her stood abated.
As per norms, three days of remission for good conduct is available for every month in jail and so far, she has completed 43 months, making her eligible for a reduction of 135 days in prison.
"As per the Karnataka Prison Manual, I strongly believe that she will be released by the month-end (November)," her advocate N Raja Senthoor Pandian had earlier said.
When the remission of 129 days is applied, the release will be by November end and not the previously expected date of January 2021, he had said.
Sasikala has already spent a total of 35 days in jail in 1997 and 2014 and availed 17-day parole in 2017, which is deducted from the period she already served, he had said.
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Speaker UT Khader attends local cricket tournament during Bhatkal visit
Bhatkal: Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly U. T. Khader visited Bhatkal in Uttara Kannada district on Saturday and attended a local cricket match being played as part of a tournament organised by the Cosmos Sports Centre of Bhatkal.
After attending a programme at Anjuman Hami-E-Muslimeen, Khader proceeded to the Bhatkal Taluka Stadium, where the tournament is underway. He was accompanied by office-bearers of the Cosmos Sports Centre and several local community leaders.
Those present during the visit included President of Majlis-e-Islah Wa Tanzeem and former JD(S) leader Inayathullah Shabandri, Vice President of Tanzeem Atiqur Rahman Muniri, General Secretary Abdul Raqeeb MJ, President of Cosmos Sports Centre Ismail Anjum, Managing Director of Mohtisham Complexes S. M. Arshad, former president of the Bhatkal Muslim Youth Federation Imtiyaz Udyawar, among others.
Addressing players and organisers, Khader extended his best wishes to the participating teams and urged the players to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship. He said such tournaments help promote unity and brotherhood among the youth.
The cricket tournament began on November 21 and will conclude with the final match on December 21. It is being organised as part of the golden jubilee celebrations of the Cosmos Sports Centre.
Cosmos Sports Centre is one of the member clubs of the Bhatkal Muslim Youth Federation and is known for its active role in promoting sports in the town. Apart from sporting activities, the centre is also involved in various social and community initiatives, including efforts to promote education among students.
