Jayalalithaa's Jewels To Be Transferred To TN govt In First Week Of March: Karnataka Court

On Monday, a special court in Bengaluru ruled that while 20 kg of gold could be sold or auctioned, the remaining amount was exempted from the decision.

Previously, the court had ruled that Jayalalithaa's kin were not entitled to the confiscated properties.

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A special court in Bengaluru announced that 27 kg of gold and diamond jewelry, which constitutes part of the material evidence in the disproportionate assets case involving former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister late J Jayalalithaa and others, will be transferred to the neighbouring Tamil Nadu government on March 6 and 7. The move was aimed to unlock the value of the assets to facilitate the mobilization of the Rs 100 crore fine imposed on her. 

The court ruled that while 20 kg could be sold or auctioned, the remaining amount was exempted from this decision on Monday. The exemption was granted considering the fact that the late Jayalalithaa inherited those assets from her mother.

Judge H A Mohan, presiding over the XXXII Additional City Civil & Sessions court, issued a directive last month for the transfer of valuables seized from Jayalalithaa to the Tamil Nadu government. It was stated that the TN Government would then proceed with necessary actions regarding the disposal of the gold and diamond jewelry, according to a report on PTI.

Given that the trial was conducted in Karnataka under the directive of the Supreme Court, all material evidence is presently held in the Karnataka treasury under the court's custody.

Previously, the court had ruled that Jayalalithaa's kin were not entitled to the confiscated properties. Consequently, the Special CBI Court dismissed the petition filed by J Deepa and J Deepak, the niece and nephew of Jayalalithaa, respectively.

In ordering the transfer of the jewels to the Tamil Nadu Government, the Special Court judge, as per the report, stated, “Instead of auctioning the jewels, it is better to transfer the same to Tamil Nadu by handing over the same through the Department of Home, State of Tamil Nadu." The Court then directed the Tamil Nadu Home Department to authorize "competent persons preferably in the rank of Secretary along with police to come and collect the jewels."