TN Oppn parties welcome decision to appeal against Jaya verdict

Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu on Monday welcomed Karnataka government's decision to appeal against Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's acquittal in a wealth case, with DMK terming it as the "right" step by the ruling Congress party.

"Karnataka has taken the right step. It is a welcome one," party spokesperson T K S Elangovan told reporters in Chennai.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam President M Karunanidhi, besides other leaders, had been urging Karnataka government to appeal against Jayalalithaa's acquittal.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief E V K S Elangovan lauded his party-led government in Karnataka for "quickly deciding" on approaching the apex court with an appeal before the 90-day deadline.

"The (Karnataka) high court had completely turned down the sentence awarded to Jayalalithaa and three others (N Sasikala, J Ilavarasi and VN Sudakaran) by the trial court. After two such different judgements there will be justice in the Supreme Court," he said in a statement.

In his reaction, Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S Ramadoss, who had written to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asking his government to appeal against Jayalalithaa's acquittal, said: "albeit a little delayed decision, it is a welcome one."

He said he had been insisting that the verdict had "loopholes".

Ramadoss said if Karnataka government had immediately heeded to his demand, "At least Jayalalithaa becoming chief minister could have been avoided" by trying to secure a stay against the high court verdict.”

"Karnataka should file an appeal, highlighting the loopholes and seek a stay order against the high court judgement," he added.

B V Acharya, who was special public prosecutor in the case, should continue in the apex court also since he was aware of the nuances of the case, Ramadoss said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party state unit President Tamizhisai Soundararajan said that since two different verdicts were given in this case -- conviction by lower court and acquittal by high court -- the appeal will give "clarity" to the people of the state.

The Karnataka government, earlier in the day, decided to file an appeal in the Supreme Court against acquittal of Jayalalithaa and three others in the disproportionate assets case.

The decision to challenge the May 11 verdict by Justice C R Kumaraswamy of Karnataka high court was taken at a cabinet meeting in Bengaluru after the advice by the SPP B V Acharya and state Advocate General Ravivarma Kumar as also the state law department.