Is Sasikala getting released? This query haunts jail officials

Is Sasikala getting released? This query haunts jail officials

Rajiv.Kalkod@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:  03.07.2020

In between their regular duties, police officials at Central Prison, Parappana Agrahara, have another task to attend to — answering phone calls or emails seeking information on former AIADMK secretary Sasikala Natarajan’s early release.

The grapevine about Sasikala’s release is something these officials have to regularly deal with. “If we say no, they ask us ‘why’, if we say that we are unsure, they ask ‘when will she be released’. Speculation about her release date has turned out to be a major headache for us,” said prison authorities.

While such questions usually peak in the run up to Republic Day, Pongal and Independence Day celebrations every year, the corona anxiety now seems to have triggered another wave of queries.

Sasikala, her foster-son VN Sudhakaran and close associate J Ilavarasi have been lodged in Central Jail since February 15, 2017, after the Supreme Court set aside their acquittal by the Karnataka high court. Their release date is fixed for February 15, 2022, provided they pay a penalty of Rs 10 crore each. In case they don’t, their jail term will get extended by another year.

A senior prison official said answering questions on Sasikala’s release gets tough. “People who make such queries are of the opinion that we can release her as per our wish. Last week, a man identifying himself as a local politician from Tamil Nadu asked why we should not write to Karnataka government seeking her release? Before disconnecting the call, which was made on the landline, he hyperventilated that we hate her and that’s why we are not making any attempts for her early release,” he said.

Another officer said whenever a list of convicts, proposed for premature release, is drawn up, word reaches Tamil Nadu, saying Sasikala’s name is in the list. “The nature of her punishment doesn’t fall under ‘premature release’. Only convicts imprisoned for life are entitled to premature release. We try to explain this to those calling us from TN and Karnataka, but in vain,” he said.

The rumours get stronger whenever politicians from TN visit her in person. “Local channels there start beaming news saying the time has come for her release. We are flooded with phone calls and emails on the matter,” said an official from Central Prison.

LOOKING BACK

In September 2014, the special trial court of judge John Michael Cunha had sentenced former Tamil Nadu chief minister late J Jayalalitha, Sasikala, Sudhakaran and Ilavarasi under Section 109 of IPC read with section 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act to four-year simple imprisonment. Jayalalitha had been fined Rs 100 crore.