Jaya’s residence worth Rs 7.24 crore — witness

CHENNAI, DECEMBER 23: A government engineer today told the court of a special judge trying former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha in...

CHENNAI, DECEMBER 23: A government engineer today told the court of a special judge trying former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha in the disproportionate wealth’ case that he had estimated the value of her Poes Garden residence here at Rs 7.24 crore.

Deposing as a prosecution witness in the trial relating to the alleged amassment of wealth worth Rs 66.65 crore by Jayalalitha and three associates, superintending engineer R Jayapaul said he had inspected her house at 36, Poes Garden, and a five-storeyed building adjacent to it in December 1996.

He said he had found high value fittings and attachments, decorative furniture, ornate doors and marble and granite flooring in the buildings. The accompanying complex had an auditorium, with a 35-mm projector and audio-visual effects accessories, and a conference hall.

Story continues below this ad

The witness said there were car sheds, driver rest rooms, a computer room, two diesel generators and 39 air-conditioning units. He had estimated the total value of the assets at Rs 7.24 crorebased on official guidelines.

Jayalalitha’s aide Sasikala, the latter’s nephew V N Sudhagaran and another relative, J Ilavarasi, are being tried along with the AIADMK supremo for abetting the alleged accumulation of unexplained wealth.