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=== 1995 Foster son and luxury wedding corruption === | === 1995 Foster son and luxury wedding corruption === | ||
In 1995, Jayalalithaa's assistant | In 1995, Jayalalithaa's assistant Sassikala's nephew Sudhakaran was engaged to the youngest daughter of Sivaji Ganesan. Jayalalithaa was a chief minister of state by this time. Jaya declared that Sudhakaran would be adopted as her foster son and said that she would be performing his marriage as his mother.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="tnmfoster">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/once-jayalalithaas-favoured-foster-son-sudhakaran-now-refused-entry-apollo-50968|title=Once Jayalalithaa's favoured foster son, Sudhakaran now refused entry into Apollo|website=thenewsminute.com|access-date=7 August 2020}}</ref> | ||
The wedding occupied a 2-km long lighted baraat pathway, ten dining halls each accommodating 25,000 people, and a 75,000 square foot pandal. Tons of plywood, paris plaster and paint were used to erect cut-outs of Jayalalitha, arches, several hundred papier-mache statues, elaborate facades of palaces and gateways. The VIP invitations included a silver plate enclosed in a container, a silk saree and a silk dhoti, each worth ₹20,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/story/19950930-jayalalithas-foster-son-married-off-amid-extravagance-and-controversy-808220-1995-09-30|title=Jayalalitha's foster son married off amid extravagance and controversy|last=SHEKHAR|first=G. C.|date=30 September 1995|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref> The marriage hosted more than 1,000 VIPs. More than 40,000 guests were granted accommodation in the hotel. A legion of elephants and chefs brought in from Kerala.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jayalalithaa-lied-she-spent-3-crores-on-foster-sons-wedding-says-court-674500|title=Jayalalithaa Lied, She Spent 3 Crores on Foster Son's Wedding, Says Court|website=NDTV.com|access-date=7 August 2020}}</ref> The incident, hailed as "the mother of all marriages". People's anger mounted against her as the crores were lavished at the wedding, and Jayalalithaa and | The wedding occupied a 2-km long lighted baraat pathway, ten dining halls each accommodating 25,000 people, and a 75,000 square foot pandal. Tons of plywood, paris plaster and paint were used to erect cut-outs of Jayalalitha, arches, several hundred papier-mache statues, elaborate facades of palaces and gateways. The VIP invitations included a silver plate enclosed in a container, a silk saree and a silk dhoti, each worth ₹20,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/story/19950930-jayalalithas-foster-son-married-off-amid-extravagance-and-controversy-808220-1995-09-30|title=Jayalalitha's foster son married off amid extravagance and controversy|last=SHEKHAR|first=G. C.|date=30 September 1995|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref> The marriage hosted more than 1,000 VIPs. More than 40,000 guests were granted accommodation in the hotel. A legion of elephants and chefs brought in from Kerala.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jayalalithaa-lied-she-spent-3-crores-on-foster-sons-wedding-says-court-674500|title=Jayalalithaa Lied, She Spent 3 Crores on Foster Son's Wedding, Says Court|website=NDTV.com|access-date=7 August 2020}}</ref> The incident, hailed as "the mother of all marriages". People's anger mounted against her as the crores were lavished at the wedding, and Jayalalithaa and Sassikala became symbols of corruption. She was accused of using government money to celebrate the grand marriage.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-38441705|title=Sasikala: The 'new mother' of Tamil Nadu politics|date=29 December 2016|work=BBC News|access-date=7 August 2020|language=en-GB}}</ref> The marriage may have triggered the AIADMK to lose all 39 Lok Sabha seats in the [[1996 general election]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Disowned-foster-son-joins-Jaya-in-prison/articleshow/43760402.cms|title=Disowned foster son joins Jaya in prison {{!}} Chennai News – Times of India|last=TNN|date=29 September 2014|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> | ||
She was later sentenced for 4 years in jail in 2014 for corruption related to the marriage and the [[Disproportionate assets case against Jayalalithaa|Disproportionate assets case]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/jayalalithaa-sentenced-to-4-years-in-jail-clashes-in-tamil-nadu/story-oVofwzwZZrOVwJNaA97xRP.html|title=Jayalalithaa sentenced to 4 years in jail; clashes in Tamil Nadu|date=27 September 2014|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=7 August 2020}}</ref> | She was later sentenced for 4 years in jail in 2014 for corruption related to the marriage and the [[Disproportionate assets case against Jayalalithaa|Disproportionate assets case]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/jayalalithaa-sentenced-to-4-years-in-jail-clashes-in-tamil-nadu/story-oVofwzwZZrOVwJNaA97xRP.html|title=Jayalalithaa sentenced to 4 years in jail; clashes in Tamil Nadu|date=27 September 2014|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=7 August 2020}}</ref> | ||
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=== Disproportionate assets case === | === Disproportionate assets case === | ||
{{Main|Disproportionate assets case against Jayalalithaa}}Jayalalithaa was initially convicted of misusing her office during her tenure in 1991–1996. [[Subramanian Swamy]] was the main petitioner. Some of the accusations concerned expenditure on her foster son's luxurious marriage in 1996 and acquiring properties worth more than 66.65 crore, as well as jewelry, bank deposits, investment and a convoy of luxury vehicles. The trial lasted for 18 years. Justice [[John Michael D'Cunha]], in a detailed judgement, showed that the entire asset belonged to the accused and no one else.<ref name="FL">{{cite web |title=From trial court verdict by John Michael D'Cunha |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/from-trial-court-verdict-by-john-michael-dcunha/article7247470.ece |website=Frontline |access-date=30 October 2020}}</ref> On 11 May 2015, Jayalalithaa was absolved of all charges by the [[High Court of Karnataka]]. On 14 February 2017, the Supreme Court of India overruled the High Court of Karnataka. | {{Main|Disproportionate assets case against Jayalalithaa}}Jayalalithaa was initially convicted of misusing her office during her tenure in 1991–1996. [[Subramanian Swamy]] was the main petitioner. Some of the accusations concerned expenditure on her foster son's luxurious marriage in 1996 and acquiring properties worth more than 66.65 crore, as well as jewelry, bank deposits, investment and a convoy of luxury vehicles. The trial lasted for 18 years. Justice [[John Michael D'Cunha]], in a detailed judgement, showed that the entire asset belonged to the accused and no one else.<ref name="FL">{{cite web |title=From trial court verdict by John Michael D'Cunha |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/from-trial-court-verdict-by-john-michael-dcunha/article7247470.ece |website=Frontline |access-date=30 October 2020}}</ref> On 11 May 2015, Jayalalithaa was absolved of all charges by the [[High Court of Karnataka]]. On 14 February 2017, the Supreme Court of India overruled the High Court of Karnataka. Sassikala and the other accused were convicted and sentenced to four years in prison, as well as to a fine of ₹10 crore each.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jayalalithaas-court-appearance-over-heads-back-to-chennai-565662|title=Jayalalithaa's court appearance over, heads back to Chennai|website=NDTV.com|access-date=7 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sasikalas-conviction-in-wealth-case-upheld-by-supreme-court/articleshow/57140345.cms|title=Sasikala news: Sasikala's conviction in wealth case upheld by Supreme Court {{!}} India News – Times of India|last=Mahapatra|first=Dhananjay|date=14 February 2017|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> | ||
=== 2000 Pleasant Stay hotel case === | === 2000 Pleasant Stay hotel case === | ||