Special prayers held for J Jayalalithaa's acquittal in disproportionate assets case

Supporters of former chief minister and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) supremo Jayalalithaa organised a special 'Gaja' (elephant) prayer in Coimbatore to pray for her early acquittal in the disproportionate assets case.

Head priest, Sivaprasad Nambodri, said the prayers would definitely turn things around for Jayalalithaa.

"We are undertaking a special prayer ceremony for praying to god for Jayalalithaa's reinstatement as chief minister and we believe that this would happen and there is no doubt about it," said Nambodri.

Jayalalithaa, who is currently out on bail till April 18, was sentenced to four years in jail on September 17 last year in a high-profile corruption case that has lasted nearly two decades.

A special court in Karnataka found Jayalalithaa guilty of "disproportionately" amassing about 530 million rupees outside her known sources of income.

Jayalalithaa was legally obliged to step down as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, which she had governed since 2011 under her latest term.

Following the news of her arrest, Jayalalithaa's supporters had clashed with the police and violence erupted in parts of Tamil Nadu.

Later, on October 17, 2014, Jayalalithaa was granted bail by the Supreme Court on grounds of poor health. The apex court extended her bail in December 2014 by another four months.