J Jayalalithaa was cool, but all smiles: Jail official

BANGALORE: AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa did not show any excitement, but was all smiles when she heard about her release from the jail here, where she was lodged after being convicted in an illegal assets case.

"She is a very strong lady. She was calm and composed and did not show any excitement when I approached her with the release copy issued by the special court. She was all smiles, though," Karnataka DIG Prisons M Jaisimha told PTI here.

"The only thing which I heard was Jayalalithaa shared joy with Sasikala and Elavarasi, who were lodged in the women's barracks. And there is no truth in sweets being distributed after the news of her release reached jail premises," he said.

Jayalalithaa's close aide Sasikala, her relatives Elavarasi and Sudhakaran were also released from jail today, a day after the Supreme Court granted them bail in the 18-year-old disproportionate assets case in which they were sentenced to four years in prison.

Quoting Jayalalithaa's parting remarks, Jaisimha said "I really appreciate the cooperation extended to me by the jail authorities. I did not face any problems all these days. Thank you very much - Good bye."

After a night's sleep, Jayalalithaa began her day today as usual, reading newspapers and also meditating in her cell, Jaisimha said.

At 2.45 PM the copy of Jayalalithaa's release order issued by the court reached the jail premises and by 3.10 PM, the AIADMK chief was ready for release, Jaisimha said.

Jayalalithaa leads a very simple life and did not demand luxury for her in the cell, Jaisimha said.

"She had deposited two ear-rings of small size and a watch when she was lodged in the jail on September 17. After signing the surety and bond papers, I returned these belongings to madam, which she accepted without any complaints," Jaisimha said.

Asked which of his meetings with Jayalalithaa he cherished the most, he said, "It was touching when she enquired about me and my family. Remember, she is quite an inaccessible leader and had not even met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Pannerselvam during her stay in the prison."

Jayalalithaa did not even once discuss politics with anybody in the jail, nor meet any of her AIADMK leaders during her stay, Jaisimha said.