After spending 4 years, VK Sasikala, expelled AIADMK leader and a close aide of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, has been released from the Bengaluru jail. She was held in a corruption case.

After the release, Sasikala was taken to a city hospital for treatment of COVID. She will also continue to get protection from Karnataka Police as long as she remains in the state.

“The decision for her to continue treatment in Victoria Hospital has been taken by her and her family members,” the hospital said in a health bulletin.

The ex-AIADMK leader’s release comes on a day when the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami inaugurates a ₹ 79 crore memorial Jayalalithaa along Chennai’s Marina Beach.

Let’s know more about the leader who has been hitting the headlines lately:

Karunanidhi the DMK chief conducted Sasikala’s wedding with Natarajan, was a public relations officer in the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Sasikala allegedly supported the sand mafia of Mannargudi which is said to be controlled by her brother V. Divakaran.

Sasikala’s sister Vanitha’s son Sudhakaran is adopted by Jayalalithaa.

In 2012 Sasikala stated that being close to Jayalalithaa is more important to her than being close to her own family. Theories say, Jayalalithaa’s sun sign is Pisces (symbol: Fish) and Sasikala’s is Aquarius (symbol: Water bearer) which might have been the reason for them being as inseparable as fish and water.

In 2011, Sasikala was expelled by Jayalallitha from Poes Garden, Amma’s residence where sasikala resided with her family, following some controversy. However, she convinced Amma and Sasikala was back in the residence within 100 days.

Sasikala, who has never made a public speech, has served as the Mayor of Tuticorn city of Tamil Nadu from 2011-2014.