High security for Sasikala

Tamilnadu February 22: Police stepped up security on Tuesday in Chennai and at the luxury resort where AIADMK legislators are being allegedly held captive by party general secretary VK Sasikala ahead of the Supreme Court verdict in a disproportionate assets case against her.

A bench of justice PC Ghose and justice AK Roy are expected to deliver the verdict in the 21-year-old corruption case in which former chief minister J Jayalalithaa is also an accused.

The two judges will pronounce separate judgments and a split verdict could help Sasikala, who is locked in a bitter power tussle with acting chief minister O Panneerselvam.

If convicted, Sasikala will be barred from contesting polls for six years. She will be ineligible to be the chief minister as the Constitution mandates election to the assembly within six months of assuming office.