Jayalalithaa's Jewellery Handover to Tamil Nadu Put on Hold by Karnataka High Court

 

The Karnataka High Court has put a temporary hold on the transfer of gold and diamond jewellery belonging to former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa to the Tamil Nadu government. The stay order, issued on March 6, 2024, by a single-judge bench led by Justice Mohammed Nawaz, applies until March 26, 2024.

This development comes after Jayalalithaa's niece, J. Deepa, filed a plea challenging the July 12, 2023, order of a special court in Karnataka. The special court had directed the handover of the jewellery, confiscated in a disproportionate assets case against Jayalalithaa, to the Tamil Nadu government.

Deepa's petition argues that her aunt should be considered "acquitted" as the Supreme Court had halted proceedings against her before her death. The special court, however, had ordered the transfer of the jewellery, valued at approximately Rs. 100 crore, to recover the fine imposed on Jayalalithaa in the case.

The special court had further directed the Tamil Nadu government to decide on the fate of the jewellery, allowing the sale or auction of 20 kg while exempting the remaining 7 kg due to their inheritance status.

The case against Jayalalithaa and her associates was transferred to Karnataka by the Supreme Court. The confiscated jewellery, considered evidence in the case, is currently held in the Karnataka treasury under the court's custody.

The Karnataka High Court's stay order puts a temporary pause on the handover process, likely prompting further legal proceedings to determine the ultimate fate of the jewellery.