Battle for Jayalalithaa's home gets ugly

CHENNAI: The battle for palatial Veda Nilayam bungalow in upscale Poes Garden, once the most powerful address in Tamil Nadu where charismatic J Jayalalithaa lived for more than four decades, began on Sunday and turned ugly almost immediately.

The late Chief Minister’s legal heirs – niece Deepa and nephew Deepak – were involved in a verbal duel inside and outside the Poes Garden residence on Sunday, which turned into a media spectacle.   High drama prevailed at the Poes Garden residence as Deepa, the daughter of late Jayalalithaa’s brother Jayakumar, arrived there at around 11 am on Sunday “on invitation” from her brother Deepak to garland the portrait of her late aunt .     

But after she paid respects, a scuffle broke out between the two with Deepa later alleging that “but for the media presence, she would not have returned alive.” As she emerged out of the residence, she dramatically accused the Mannargudi clan of trying to “harm” her and CM Palanisami of “doing nothing” to protect her.

Though Deepa claims her visit was “sudden”, sources said it seemed to be a plan by the late Jayalalithaa’s niece since some media organisations received a phone call from her aides saying that they were going to “claim” the property.

“A conspiracy has been hatched to harm me and I think that is why my brother (Deepak) telephoned me at 4.30 am on Sunday and requested me to come to Poes Garden. Only after I went there, I realised it was a drama and the legal battle has begun. I have begun legal formalities to claim my stake in the Poes Garden residence," Deepa told reporters at her T. Nagar residence in the evening.

It appears that scuffle broke between the siblings when Deepa wanted to go inside the sprawling premises and Deepak objected to her move. Videos surfacing after the incident suggested that they exchanged barbs and Deepa openly accused her younger sibling of siding with Sasikala family just for the sake of money.

“He (Deepak) was not in proper state of mind. He was not in (right) position. He is colluding with Sasikala and  Dhinakaran to attack me and harm me. The incident that took place today suggests there is a larger conspiracy to kill me," Deepa, who was not even allowed to meet her aunt when she was battling for life at Apollo Hospitals here last year, said.

While Deepak admitted that he invited his sister Deepa to the bungalow, he rejected outright her allegations that she was “mistreated and not allowed inside.”

“No one can deny entry to her. We (Deepa and Deepak) own the property (Poes Garden residence),” Deepak said immediately after Deepa addressed media outside the bungalow. Deepa also claimed she was “manhandled” by private guards posted at the bungalow, but those present inside said she was not attacked.  Speaking to reporters,  she said she has sought an appointment with PM  Modi to apprise him of the situation.

Sasikala, Deepak, killed Jaya: Deepa
J Jayalalithaa was “killed” by her long-time aide V.K. Sasikala and Deepak Jayakumar joined her for “money”, his sister and the late chief minister’s niece Deepa alleged on Sunday.