Supreme Court Upholds Jayalalithaa Property Confiscation

The Supreme Court dismissed a plea by the legal heirs of J Jayalalithaa for the return of her confiscated properties, clarifying that the abatement of proceedings against her did not imply acquittal. The confiscation remains with Tamil Nadu following her conviction in a disproportionate assets case.

The Supreme Court on Friday turned down a petition from the legal heirs of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, who sought the return of properties confiscated in a case against her. The apex court clarified that the abatement of proceedings during her lifetime did not equate to an acquittal.

Justices B V Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma referred to a 2017 judgment where proceedings against Jayalalithaa abated upon her death. However, the court emphasized that this did not mean the high court's judgment acquitting her was final.

Jayalalithaa's niece claimed the confiscated assets as her legal heir after a Karnataka High Court decision dismissed similar claims by her and her sibling. The Supreme Court's decision ensures the assets remain with the Tamil Nadu government despite the abated case.