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HC acquits Jayalalithaa in Tansi, hotel cases

Our Bureau

CHENNAI, Dec. 4

THE decks have been cleared for the AIADMK General Secretary, Ms Jayalalithaa, to assume office as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu once again with the Madras High Court acquitting her in the Tansi land deal and Pleasant Stay Hotel cases.

However, Ms Jayalalithaa is expected to seek legal opinion before she formally stakes her claim to be sworn in as Chief Minister. The Andhra Pradesh Governor, Dr C. Rangarajan, who is holding additional charge of Tamil Nadu, is not in Chennai now.

Ms Jayalalithaa, who was sworn in as Chief Minister on May 14 following her party's victory in the Assembly elections, had to step down on September 21 after the Supreme Court quashed and set aside her appointment. The Supreme Court's ruling came on a ba tch of petitions challenging the appointment by the then Governor, Ms Fathima Beevi, on the grounds that Ms Jayalalithaa was convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Following that, the AIADMK legislature party met the same day and elected Mr O. Panneerselvam, Revenue Minister in the Jayalalithaa Government, to be the Chief Minister. Even at that time, Ms Jayalalithaa had made it clear that it was only a temporary ar rangement and that she would come back as Chief Minister after fighting her legal battles.