Bengaluru CBI court orders Jayalalithaa’s properties be transferred to TN government

A special CBI court in Bengaluru has directed the transfer of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s seized assets to the Tamil Nadu government. The ruling follows the Karnataka High Court’s dismissal of an appeal by her nephew J Deepak and niece J Deepa, who sought the release of the properties.

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The assets, seized in connection with the 2004 disproportionate assets case, include her iconic Poes Garden residence in Chennai, bank deposits, 700 kg of silver ornaments, gold and diamond jewellery, over 11,000 sarees, 44 air conditioners, and 750 pairs of footwear, among other valuables. The total worth is estimated to be several hundred crores.

Judge H A Mohan of the 36th Additional City Civil Sessions Court has instructed authorities to complete the transfer by February 14 or 15.

Initially, the CBI court intended to transfer the properties in March 2024. However, Jayalalithaa’s heirs secured a stay order from the Karnataka High Court, which was recently vacated, allowing the current order to proceed.

During the hearing, Justice V Srishananda suggested that the heirs consider setting up a charitable foundation in Jayalalithaa’s name, emphasizing the transient nature of material wealth.

The seized properties were originally identified during searches conducted between December 7 and 12, 1996.