V.K. Sasikala, jailed interim general secretary of the AIADMK, obtained a five-day parole from the Parappana Agrahara Prison in Bengaluru on Friday.
Sasikala had applied for 15 days parole to visit her ailing husband but the prison authorities after scrutinising the documents reduced the number of days to five.
Her husband Natarajan who had recently undergone a renal and liver transplant, is reportedly recuperating at a private hospital in Chennai . She is to report back to the Bengaluru central prisons by October 12, 6 pm.
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The parole was on strict conditions that she cannot visit anywhere other than her husband's hospital or her house in Chennai. She is restricted from involving herself in any kind of political activity including talking with her party workers or holding public meeting . Though she is allowed to speak to her relatives, she is refrained from speaking anything to the media, Superintedent of Prison Somashekhar said.
The prison authorities have asked the Chennai police to ensure that she adhere to the stipulated conditions.
Sasikala is allowed to stay in the hospital between 9 am and 5 pm. She had to visit the jurisdictional police station and sign as part of the parole rules and had to give explanation to the police in case of emergency and violations of the parole conditions.
Sasikala, who is serving a four-year jail term since mid-February, had sought parole for 15 days, as her husband is critically ill. Her application was first submitted along with a medical certificate stating that her husband was suffering from kidney and liver failure and that she would like to visit him.
The jail officials rejected the application on October 2, saying it was incomplete. A certificate from a local MLA or MLC or a gazetted officer certifying that Mr. Natarajan was seriously ill was not enclosed with the application, they said.
The prison authorities summoned Sasikala's nephew T.T.V. Dhinakaran, who went inside the prison along with his counsel while the prison authorities verified the documents submitted to them.
PTI adds:
Soon after completing the required formalities, Sasikala, accompanied by Mr. Dhinakaran, headed for Chennai by road.
Rajya Sabha member from Tamil Nadu, Navaneetha Krishnan, has given an undertaking for Sasikala’s parole, her lawyer Krisnappana told reporters outside the jail premises. “Rs 1,000 surety also has been deposited,” he added.
Around 100 supporters of Sasikala gathered outside the jail premises. Mr. Krisnappana said
AIADMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran arrives at the Parapanna Agrahara prison complex in Bengaluru on October 6.
The Tamil Nadu Police had earlier issued an NOC to the Karnataka government for granting parole to Sasikala, he said.
