Karnataka HC begins hearing Jayalalithaa's bail plea

Bangalore: The Karnataka High Court has started hearing former Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa's bail plea seeking immediate relief and suspension of four-year sentence in connection with an 18-year-old disproportionate assets case.

The court didn't accepted AIADMK chief's counsel Ram Jethmalani's request to listen his client's case at earliest and ruled that  hearing will take place according to the number only.

Bracing up for the anticipated entry of AIADMK supporters and leaders into the city from the border, the police have tightened security in and around the High Court and Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, where Jayalalithaa is lodged since September 27.

The High Court vacation bench had on October 1 deferred till October 7 pleas of Jayalalithaa and her close aide Sasikala and her relatives VN Sudhakaran and Elavarasi, who were also convicted in the case, to be taken by a regular bench after the end of Dasara vacation.

"We have made all security arrangements to avoid any untoward incidents. We have information on a lot of AIADMK supporters and leaders flocking to the city from the border areas of Hosur," ACP (Law and Order) Alok Kumar said.

The police are prepared for the influx of AIADMK supporters and leaders, who are camping in various lodges and resorts on the eve of Jayalalithaa's bail plea hearing, Kumar said.

"Let them come. We have handled the situation on earlier occasions--on the verdict day and bail plea hearing days. We will handle the situation this time too," Kumar said.

Section 144 of the CrPC has been clamped within one km radius of the High Court and Parapanna Agrahara Prison, where Sasikala, Sudhakaran and Elavarasi are also lodged.