J Deepa Approaches Supreme Court Seeking Return of Jayalalithaa's Confiscated Properties

WHAT HAS HAPPENED?

J Deepa, the niece of the late former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, has approached the Supreme Court seeking the return of the properties confiscated in the disproportionate assets case against Jayalalithaa. Deepa has filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) challenging the Karnataka High Court's order that refused to release Jayalalithaa's assets to her.

ARGUMENTS MADE BY J DEEPA

J Deepa's petition argues that since the criminal case against Jayalalithaa was abated following her death in December 2016, the assets seized during the proceedings must be returned. The petition claims that the confiscation should not apply to Jayalalithaa’s assets as she is no longer alive to be held accountable for the conviction.

BACKGROUND OF THE CASE

• In September 2014, Jayalalithaa was convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act and sentenced to four years of simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 100 crores.
• In 2015, the Karnataka High Court set aside the conviction and acquitted her. However, the Supreme Court was still considering the state's appeal against her acquittal when Jayalalithaa passed away in December 2016.

• In February 2017, the Supreme Court recorded that the appeal against Jayalalithaa had abated following her death, but restored the conviction for the other accused. The court also clarified that the confiscation of her property did not apply to Jayalalithaa.

J DEEPA'S PLEA

J Deepa contends that, following the Supreme Court's ruling, the confiscation of Jayalalithaa's assets should not apply to her, as the appeal was abated due to Jayalalithaa's death. The Madras High Court recognized J Deepa and her brother as the legal heirs of Jayalalithaa and granted them letters of administration concerning her properties.

KARNATAKA HIGH COURT'S DECISION

The Karnataka High Court rejected Deepa's appeal, observing that the Supreme Court’s order clearly stated that the directions regarding confiscation had to be adhered to, even by the legal representatives (LRs) of deceased accused (A1, Jayalalithaa).

THE COURT'S OBSERVATIONS

The Karnataka High Court also noted that the Supreme Court, in its final order, had considered the death of Jayalalithaa, but had reaffirmed the trial court’s order for confiscation and other directions related to the case.