Congress, PMK welcome Karnataka government decision to appeal in Jayalalithaa case

CHENNAI:Congress and PMK today welcomed the Karnataka government's decision to appeal against acquittal of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in a wealth case.

While TNCC President E V K S Elangovan patted his party- run government in that state for "quickly deciding" on the appeal, PMK founder welcomed the decision "albeit a little delayed."

Elangovan lauded the Karnataka government for deciding on appealing "quickly within 20 days," within the stipulated 90-day time frame.

"The (Karnataka) High Court had completely turned down the sentence awarded to Jayalalithaa and three others (Sasikala, Ilavarasi and Sudakaran) by the trial court. After two such different judgements there will be justice finally in the Supreme Court only," he said in a statement.

He hoped that the apex court would deliver its verdict "without giving in to any pressure."

PMK founder S Ramadoss, who had written to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah urging his government to appeal against Jayalalithaa's acquittal, said: "albeit a little delayed decision, it is a welcome one."

He recalled that he had been insisting that the verdict had 'loopholes'.

If Karnataka government had immediately heeded his demand, "at least Jayalalithaa becoming Chief Minister could have been avoided" by securing a stay against the High Court verdict.

"Karnataka should file an appeal, highlighting the loopholes and seek a stay order against the High Court judgement," he said.

B V Acharya, who was Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) in the case, should continue in the apex court also since he was aware of the nuances of the case, Ramadoss said.

Karnataka government today decided to file an appeal in the Supreme Court against acquittal of Jayalalithaa and three others in the disproportionate assets case.

The decision to challenge the May 11 verdict by Justice C R Kumaraswamy of Karnataka High Court was taken at a cabinet meeting after the advice by the SPP B V Acharya and state Advocate General Ravivarma Kumar as also the state Law Department.