Jayalalithaa's 10,500 sarees, 750 slippers, 500 wine glasses are under 24-hr guard in Karnataka

After the demise of J. Jayalalithaa, all cases against her have been lifted, but the assets that were taken into custody are still with the Karnataka court.

AIADMK leaders are hoping the Supreme Court will soon pass a judgment and release her belongings so that they can be kept in a museum in her memory.

"Since there is more than one accused in the case, the trial will continue," BV Acharya, special public prosecutor for Karnataka, told TOI.

He also said the Karnataka government would file a memo in the Supreme Court on Jayalalithaa's death.

"If the court finds the accused guilty, the seized wealth will be confiscated and handed over to the Tamil Nadu government. If they are acquitted, it will be given to the rightful claimant from Tamil Nadu," A S Ponnanna, additional advocate general of Karnataka, told TOI.

In 1996, the assets that were seized from Jayalalithaa’s place, in an income tax raid are kept in two positions.

Of the seized assets, 10,500 saris, 750 pairs of slippers and 500 wine glasses are in a room on the first floor of the City Civil Court. As the assets have to be guarded round the clock, four policemen are on duty in shifts. The income tax department handed the assets to the government in 2002 when the case was transferred from Tamil Nadu to Karnataka. The assets, kept in the treasury , includes 21.28kg of gold jewellery worth Rs 3.5 crore, 1,250kg of silver articles worth Rs 3.12 crore, diamonds worth Rs 2 crore and a silver sword.

"We can decide on them only after the SC gives its judgment," said Ponnanna.

The court verdict is expected in June 2017.
(image: IndiaTimes)