IT Department freezes Sasikala's assets worth Rs 2000 crores

Income Tax Department on Wednesday froze assets worth Rs 2000 crores owned by former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa's close aide VK Sasikala under the Benami Prohibition Act.

The frozen assets include two properties located in Siruthavur and Kodanadu, which are in the name of Jaya’s aide Sasikala, Ilavarasi and Sudhakaran.

An official statement from the IT Department said, "Income Tax Department today attached assets belonging to former CM J Jayalalithaa's aide Sasikala in Kodanad and Siruthavur areas of Tamil Nadu. Assets worth Rs 2000 crore frozen".

Earlier, the IT department has also attached nearly 65 properties that were acquired by the Sasikala clan during the year 2003-05, including a new house under construction in Poes Garden, opposite to Veda Nilayam, under the Benami Prohibition Act.

Sasikala and her two relatives - Illavarasi and Sudhakaran - are currently serving a four-year sentence in a disproportionate assets case.

Meanwhile, an RTI query revealed that upon paying the entire fine amount of 10 crores, Sasikala's "probable date of release" will be on January 27, 2021. Failing which, as per judgement she has to undergo the default of sentence of imprisonment and her release will be postponed to February 27, 2022.