I-T attaches Jaya’s properties held by Sasikala kin

The Income Tax Department (benami transactions prohibition unit) has attached former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalithaa’s Kodanad and Siruthavur property worth £200 million. These assets were purchased in the name of two benamis - VK Sasikala's sister-in-law Ilavarasi and VN Sudhakaran - who are currently serving their four-year prison term in the disproportionate assets case. The properties attached under the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 includes 44.3 acres at Siruthavur village and other properties in Kodanad. The copies of the IT notices were also sent to Deepa and Deepak Jayakumar, Jayalalithaa’s legal heir. However, it is to be noted here that a message sent from the I-T department to the media said that ‘assets belonging to former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s aide Sasikala in Kodanad and Siruthavur areas have been attached.’ The notices clearly show that the properties, however, belonged to the late Chief Minister and the others were benamis.