Disproportionate assets case: Laughter, and then tears

Bengaluru: It was confusion confounded at the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison on Tuesday. Jailed AIADMK supermo J. Jayalalithaa’s supporters, who had gathered in large numbers to celebrate the news of her release, were disappointed as rumours made rounds.

An anxious crowd of over 2,000 was near the central prison, where “Amma” is jailed, from morning on Tuesday.

They prayed for Ms Jayalalithaa’s release and waited for High Court’s verdict on her bail petition. Around 11.30 am, the crowd celebrated by bursting crackers, as there were rumours that she was granted bail. But it was shortlived as the supporters soon realised that it was false news.

The people, who had gathered despite the prohibitory orders in the area, started shouting slogans praising “Amma” and her good work in Tamil Nadu.

They started dancing and bursting crackers again, after social networking websites reported that the public prosecutor had not objected to her bail.  

But then came the real shocker that the High Court had rejected her plea.

DIG, Prisons, Jayasimha was reportedly halfway to VIP cell No. 23 in the women’s section in the Central Prison to break the news to the former chief minister.

Some jail officials who realised that the court had not yet given bail ran after him and stopped him

The police increased security, and when some of the protesters tried to stage a protest against the Karnataka government and the High Court, the police warned them that action would be taken against them as Section 144 was in place.

The crowd engaged the police in a verbal duel and was chased away.

Besides the common public, a good number of ministers and MLAs from the AIADMK had also camped near the prison. They were ready to welcome their leader out of the prison. But they had to return disappointed.