Madras HC asks State to reveal Jayalalithaa’s assets and loans

In a significant move, the High Court of Madras has directed the State Govt. to reveal details of all properties as well as loans against the name of former AIADMK supremo and former Tamil Nadu chief-minister J. Jayalalithaa.

Jayalalithaa was declared dead by Apollo Hospitals late on the night of 05th December, 2016 after a suspense-filled 75-day long spell.  Ever since her demise, accusations of foul play in her demise have been made ironically by the ruling AIADMK as well as by opposition parties such as the DMK and the Congress.

AIADMK functionary Pugazhendhi of Chennai had earlier moved the High Court filing a petition in which he had stated “Former chief-minister J. Jayalalithaa had plenty of properties in her name including a few grape estates in Hyderabad, Kodanadu Estate in Tamil Nadu, etc.  Her properties, including her Poes Garden residence in Chennai, are estimated by experts as worth more than Rs.900 crores.  However, Jayalalithaa hasn’t left any will about her properties.  I pray to the Court to appoint a custodian to manager her properties.”

Taking up Pugazhendhi’s petition for interrogation yesterday, the High Court of Madras directed the Income Tax Department to reveal the details of Jayalalithaa’s properties as well as the loans against her name.  It also directed Enforcement Directorate and the Govt. of Tamil Nadu to furnish details of Jayalalithaa’s assets available with them as the State plans to convert the Poes Garden residence of the former chief-minister into a public Memorial.