I have emerged like tested pure gold : Jayalalithaa

The 67-year-old politician was found not guilty in a nearly two-decades-old case of corruption by the Karnataka High Court on day following hearing on her challenge to a Bagalore trial court in September last year that sentenced her to four years in jail and fined Rs. 100 crore.

She was jailed  for amassing an 54-crore fortune illegally during her first term as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister in the 90s.

"I am immensely satisfied with the verdict... Verdict paved way for me to emerge like tested pure gold ," reports quoted Jayalalithaa as saying.

"It has confirmed that I have done no wrong, this verdict is a boon granted by God for the prayers of Tamil Nadu people after the verdict of the lower court," she said.


The trial was held in Karnataka to ensure it was not influenced by the considerable clout her party, the AIADMK, has in Tamil Nadu.

Jaya's conviction last year forfeited her MLAship and she was forced to step down making room for her protege O Panneerselvam as the next incumbent to the chair of chief minister.

"This is not a personal victory but a victory for the people," she said, blaming her arch-rival, the Opposition DMK, for "foisting" a corruption case on her.

"The DMK has been unable to defeat  me," she said.

"As conspiracy and fate played out justice slept in between and today's judgement has proclaimed that justice will emerge victorious," Jayalalitha said.

"I recall with sorrow the demise of 233 party cadres who lost their lives after the special court delivered its verdict on my sentence," she said.

Her imprisonment in a Bangalore prison last year for three weeks led supporters and party workers to vandalise public property and set buses on fire.

 When the Supreme Court granted her bail in October last year, it asked her to ensure her supporters would follow the law.

On Monday, however, Jaya's supporters thronged outside her  residence in Chennai , spontaneously celebrating the occasion,dancing on the streets, bursting firecrackers and distributing sweets.

Many on Twitter declared it "Happy Amma Day" -an extension of Sunday's Mother's Day.

Reacting to the court verdict, Jalyalalitha's arch rival M Karunanidhi of the DMK said  this was "not the final verdict."

"What has been pronounced today is not the final verdict. I would like to remind one and all about Mahatma Gandhi's saying there is a court above all courts and that is conscience," he said in a statement.

However, Monday's verdict is set to bring Jaya back to the throne once again as no more does she have  any legal bar to becoming a legislator and the CM.

Her acquittal by the High Court  led to  frenzied celebrations outside the Chennai office of her party and her residence as the AIADMK said the"amma" will again become the chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

"Of course she will be chief minister,"  media reports quoted  Rabi Bernard, AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP and spokesperson as saying.

"Amma and the party will decide when she will assume charge," he said.

According to the constitution, Jayalalitha need not be a sitting MLA to become CM but will have to win a bypoll within six months in order to stay in the post.