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Jayalalithaa verdict: Former Tamil Nadu CM was today acquitted by the Karnataka High Court on her appeal against the judgement of the Special Court Judge John Michael D'Cunha who had on September 27 last year held Jayalalithaa and three others guilty of corruption and awarded four years jail term, due to which she attracted disqualification as an MLA. The judge had also slapped a fine of Rs 100 crore on her and Rs 10 crore each on three other convicts. </br><br> Following is the course of events in the disproportionate assets case against theJayalalithaa that witnessed legal and political twists and turns in the last 19 years after the DMK government decided to form Special Court on coming to power in 1996. Here are top 10 points:
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1. 1996: Subramanian Swamy, then Janata Party chief, files a case against Jayalalithaa alleging that during her tenure as Chief Minister from 1991 to 1996, she amassed properties worth Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate to her known sources of income. Jayalalithaa arrested on Dec 7, 1996.
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2. October 1, 1997: Madras High Court dismisses three petitions by Jayalalithaa including one challenging sanction granted by then Governor M Fathima Beevi for prosecuting her in the wealth case. In the 2001 May Assembly elections, AIADMK secures absolute majority and Jayalalithaa becomes Chief Minister. Her appointment is challenged due to her conviction in October, 2000 in the TANSI (Tamil Nadu Small Industries Corporation) case. SC nullifies the appointment. September 21, 2001, Jayalalithaa ceases to be Chief Minister. After her conviction is set aside, Jayalalithaa is elected to the Assembly in a bypoll from Andipatti constituency on Feb 21, 2002, and again sworn in as Chief Minister. Several prosecution witnesses resile from their earlier depositions after AIADMK returned to power.
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3. August 28, 2014: Special court reserves judgement for September 20 and directs all the four accused, including Jayalalithaa, to appear before it on that date. However, on September 16, 2014, special Court defers by a week to September 27 pronouncement of its verdict.
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4. September 27, 2014: Special Court convicts Jayalalithaa and three others including aide Sasikala. Awards four years' prison term for Jayalalithaa, slaps Rs 100 crore fine.
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5. September 29, 2014: Jayalalithaa moves Karnataka High Court challenging conviction, seeks bail. October 7, 2014 : High Court denies bail, citing 'no grounds,' to do so.
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6. October 9, 2014: Jayalalithaa moves Supreme Court seeking bail. SC grants bail to Jayalalithaa on October 17.
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7. October 18, 2014: After 21 days in prison, Jayalalithaa released from prison on bail. SC says it will ask Karnataka High Court to complete hearing on appeal in three months' time. </br><br>December 18, 2014: SC extends Jayalalithaa's bail by four months. A bench headed by CJI HL Dattu orders that her appeal challenging conviction in Karnataka High Court be conducted on day-to-day basis by a Special Bench.
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8. December 18, 2014: SC extends Jayalalithaa's bail by four months. A bench headed by CJI HL Dattu orders that her appeal challenging conviction in Karnataka High Court be conducted on day-to-day basis by a Special Bench. In February, 2015, DMK General Secretary K Anbazhagan moves Supreme Court seeking stay of case against Jayalalithaa questioning impartiality of SPP Bhawani Singh. On March 9, 2015, SC issues notices to Jayalalithaa and others on plea by Anbazhagan seeking removal of prosecutor. Jaya defends Singh's continuance. In April, 2015, SC rejects Bhawani Singh's appointment as "bad in law", says case does not warrant de novo (fresh) hearing of appeals. Allows Anbazhagan and Karnataka to file written submissions in High Court.
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9. April 28, 2015: BV Acharya appointed new SPP, files written submission before Karnataka High Court praying for dismissal of Jayalalithaa's appeal. On May 8, 2015: Karnataka High Court notification says Special Vacation Bench of Justice CR Kumaraswamy will pronounce verdict on Jayalalithaa's appeal on May 11, 2015.
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10. May 11, 2015: Karnataka High Court acquits Jayalalithaa and three others, including confidante Sasikala, paving the way for her return as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu again.
