May,11,2015: Three others also acquitted; massive celebrations at party headquarters in Chennai.

In a major victory for AIADMK, a special Bench of the Karnataka High Court set aside the trial court order convicting former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in the disproportionate assets case. Justice C.R Kumaraswamy, who read out the judgment at 11 a.m, said the appeals of all the four accused, including Ms. Jayalalithaa have been allowed and they were being acquitted of all charges.

In September 2014, she was sentenced to four years prison sentence and Rs. 100 crore fine was imposed.

Time frame of updates-

12: 22 p.m.: Justice C R Kumaraswamy also acquitted AIADMK’s chief close aide Sasikala Natarajan and her relatives J Elavarasi and V N Sudhakaran.

12.20 p.m.: TMC leader G.K. Vasan said the judgement of the Karnataka High Court acquitting former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and others should not be viewed politically. "Our stand, eve when the trial court delivered its judgement, was the same," he said in a statement.

11: 25 am: A pall of gloom has descended on DMK leader M Karunanidhi's residence at Gopalapuram. Partymen expecting a judgment against Ms Jayalalithaa were disappointed and left the area one by one. DMK Treasurer M.K. Stalin and former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran called on Mr. Karunanidhi.

11: 08 am : AIADMK congratulated in Lok Sabha by MPs after former Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa's acquittal by Karnataka HC in disproportionate assets case.

11:00 am: Jayalalithaa and three others acquitted in DA case. 

10: 54 am: DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin, former Union Ministers T.R. Baalu, A. Raja at party leader M. Karunanidhi's residence in Gopalapuram, Chennai.

10: 52 am: Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam is still at his official residence on Greenways Road. He is yet to go to Poes Garden or party headquarters.

10: 50 am: There is a huge media presence inside the Court hall, tense atmosphere prevails, reports Sruthisagar Yamunan

10: 36 am: No AIADMK men in Karnataka Court complex, reports Sruthisagar Yamunan.

10: 34 am: Prosecution and defence lawyers take seats as Karnataka High Court. Proceedings to begin at 11 am.

10: 30 am: 'Despite the protracted and tortuous course that the legal process took in this case, justice seems to have been finally done.' - 

10: 25 am: A steady increase in number of followers at Poes Garden residence of the party supremo, reports Meera Srinivasan.

10: 23 am: The Disproportionate Assets case has spanned over a solid 18 years with many twists and turns. 

10: 22 am: A look at the political ramifications of the verdict:

» The AIADMK vote bank and Ms Jayalalithaa’s hold over the organisations are unlikely to suffer any immediate setback even if the High Court upholds the conviction.

» Political parties such as the DMDK and the PMK might seek to form new alliances and cash in on a possible mood of gloom in the AIADMK camp. PMK founder S. Ramadoss has been speaking of an alternative front

» DMDK founder Vijayakant, despite moving close to the DMK, will also seek to project himself as a right alternative.

» VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan is talking of cobbling together a front of smaller parties.

» DMK banks on being the most viable alternative to the AIADMK.

10:20 am: AIADMK cadre outside the party office in Chennai. AIADMK are chanting, "Our Amma is South Indian Jhansi Rani. Our Amma is Bharathi's new woman."Hindu

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