After walking out of Parappana Agrahara prison following completion of a four-year jail term in a disproportionate assets case, V K Sasikala has revived a case filed in 2017 challenging the AIADMK general council's decision of removing her as interim general secretary of the party.
The case, which was originally filed in Madras High Court and was transferred to a lower court on the count of jurisdiction, has now been listed before an additional judge of the City Civil Court. The case challenging the general council's decision to remove Sasikala as interim general secretary of the AIADMK will now be heard on March 15.
The revival of the case by Sasikala is yet another hint that she will not just take the plunge into active politics, but it is also firm on “retrieving” the AIADMK. 67-year-old Sasikala, who is currently under quarantine after she was infected with Covid-19, arrived in Chennai on February 8 to a rousing welcome by her supporters.
Sasikala's legal team says only the general secretary or the presidium chairman of the party has powers to convene the general council. But the notification for the September 12, 2017 meeting was issued by the “headquarters.” Hence, the general council itself was illegal and the decisions taken at the meeting should be quashed, the team argues.
“This is not a new case. The original case was filed by my client, Ms V K Sasikala, in October 2017 in Madras High Court. But the case was transferred to a lower court. Due to some administrative hiccups, the case was not listed in any court. After much efforts, we have got the case listed now,” N Raja Senthoor Pandian, Sasikala's counsel, told DH.
The efforts to expedite the case come just months before Tamil Nadu heads to its most crucial elections in recent times. Sasikala, who has challenged her removal from the post, had used the AIADMK flag more than once after walking free from the jail, inviting criticism and a police complaint from the ruling party.