Convicted former AIADMK leader VK Sasikala, who is currently lodged in Bengaluru’s Parappanna Agrahara Jail, has sought parole in the wake of her husband’s death in the wee hours of Tuesday.
Speaking to TNM, Parapanna Agrahara Jail Superintendent Somashekhar said, “She has applied for parole and the process has started. This is in view of husband's death.” But he refused to divulge more details.
When asked if she would be granted parole on Tuesday itself, he replied, "We have to see."
According to party sources, she is expected to travel by road to Thanjavur directly for the funeral.
Sasikala, who was a close aide to former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, is expected to apply for a 15-day parole, but the number of parole days granted will solely depend on jail authorities.
She was sent to Parappana Agrahara central prison in February, 2017, after the Supreme Court set aside her acquittal by the Karnataka High Court in the Disproportionate Assets Case.
The apex court restored the Special Court’s judgement by Michael D’Cunha in September 2014 with penalties, which convicted all four accused in the 20-year-old corruption case.
Natarajan, who was 74-years-old, died in a private hospital on Tuesday.
According to Chennai’s Gleneagles Global Health City Hospital, Natarajan Maruthappa passed away at 1:30 am on Tuesday. He had undergone a double organ transplant in October 2017, but was suffering ever since.
A former public relations official in the Tamil Nadu government, Natarajan was ailing for some time. Recently, he was again admitted in the intensive care unit on March 16 and was kept on ventilator support till then.
"Every possible clinical attempt was made to sustain his revival. However, despite our best efforts, he was unable to recover," the statement from the hospital said.
During his surgery, Sasikala had sought and was granted a six-day parole by Parappana Agrahara authorities to visit her ailing husband. She had applied for a 15-day parole and her initial request was rejected on grounds of a technicality.
The emergency parole granted to her at that time had four conditions, viz.
1. During emergency parole, she is restricted only to visit the hospital where her husband is admitted, and stay at the residence as mentioned in her application.
2. During emergency parole period, she is not supposed to entertain any visitors either at her residence or at the hospital.
3. During emergency parole period, she is not supposed to involve in political or any other public activities, and cannot take part in party activities.
4. She should not interact with any media, press or electronic.
Natarajan’s body is expected to be taken to his native village in Thanjavur district for the funeral.
According to AIADMK leader V Pugazhenthi, who sided with TTV Dhinakaran (Sasikala’s nephew) since the party split, according to rules Sasikala cannot be granted bail within six months of her last parole.