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Frenzied supporters greet Jaya after release from jail
Shubhadeep Choudhury
Tribune News Service

Bangalore, October 18
Rarely has a convict in a corruption case got such a grand welcome on release from prison as AIADMK supremo and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa received today as she emerged from Bangalore’s Central Prison after staying in jail for three weeks.

mil Nadu Chief Minister of O Panneerselvam, who replaced Jayalalithaa after her conviction, was present in Bangalore along with other AIADMK leaders to receive Jayalalithaa.

Panneerselvam has been doing his job in place of Jayalalithaa like Bharat did for Lord Rama after he left for a 14-year “vanvaas” in Ramayana. Like Bharat, Panneerselvam never sits on Jayalalithaa’s chair.

Hundreds of Jayalalithaa’s fans and frenzied supporters lined up on both sides of the road and cheered her as her convoy sped away towards the HAL airport.

AIADMK cadres danced, clapped and waived party flags, while others burst firecrackers raising slogans in favour of Jayalalithaa. AIADMK supporters also gathered near the prison and the police had to push them back at one point when they tried to break through the cordon. With a convoy of vehicles and security paraphernalia that can be matched only by the Prime Minister or the President, Jayalalithaa arrived at the HAL airport from the prison and left for Chennai in a Tamil Nadu Government chartered plane. Jayalalithaa’s three associates Sasikala Natarajan, V Sudhakaran and J Elavarisi, who were released along with her from the jail, accompanied her.

Rs 2-cr bail bond

• Jayalalithaa was on Saturday released from Bangalore’s Central Prison after staying in jail for three weeks
• The release order came after a bond for Rs 2 crore was furnished and surety of assets was offered
• Jaya arrived at the HAL airport from the prison and reached Chennai in a Tamil Nadu Government chartered plane