Court victory for Jayalalitha

Jayalalitha can return as chief minister

One of India's most controversial politicians, Jayalalitha, has been acquitted of corruption, clearing the way for her return as chief minister of the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

The ruling by a court in Tamil Nadu came in response to an appeal against her conviction in two cases, one of which earned her a jail sentence.

Ms Jayalalitha had been forced to resign as chief minister of Tamil Nadu in September, following a Supreme Court ruling which said her appointment was unconstitutional because of these convictions.

But because she has now been acquitted, political analysts say she can now contest a by-election early next year and then return as chief minister.

Jailed for corruption

Jayalalitha had been convicted of corruption over a land deal and sentenced to three years in jail in October 2000.

Justice Dinakar, who ruled on her appeal on Tuesday, acquitted her on the grounds that the prosecution had failed to prove that the price she paid for government-owned land was lower than its market value.

The court also acquitted her in another case in which she was sentenced to a year in jail on corruption charges when she granted permission for the construction of a luxury hotel at a hill resort.

It is not yet clear whether she will indeed stake her claim to become chief minister immediately or wait to get herself elected in a by-election due in the next couple of months.

Short tenure

During her campaign in elections to the Tamil Nadu state assembly earlier this year, Jayalalitha turned her disadvantage into an opportunity and sought the sympathy of voters.

And when her party, the AIADMK, won a landslide victory and its elected representatives chose her as their leader, the governor of the state went ahead and appointed her the chief minister anyway.

Jayalalitha's tenure was marred by the dramatic arrest of her long time rival, M Karunanidhi, on charges of corruption.

Mr Karunanidhi, who is 78, was dragged from his home in a late-night raid by the police and dramatic pictures of his arrest were carried on television channels across India.

He was later released by Jayalalitha on humanitarian grounds after the government in Delhi made clear its displeasure over his treatment.