The talk and speculations around the release of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's closest aide VK Sasikala have again got air and space in the state after the counsel of the jailed leader said that Sasikala would be released from the prison soon. 

VK Sasikala has currently been lodged in the Parappana Agrahara Prison in Bengaluru since February 2017 after she was convicted for four years of imprisonment in the Disproportionate Assets Case in which former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was the first accused. As per the verdict of the court, she was due to get released in February 2021 after she completes the fullest sentence of imprisonment. 

However, though she has jailed, her name has been revolving around the state politics with her supporters and family members have been hoping that she would be released prematurely before the end of the actual sentence. The talk of her release has been one of the active subjects in the state and among the ruling party. Earlier in June, BJP leader Aseervatham Achary's tweet had stirred the speculations on Sasikala's release. 

In his tweet, Achary said, "Mrs. Sasikala Natarajan is likely to be released from Parapana Agrahara Central jail, Bangalore on 14th August 2020. Wait for further update". His tweet of mentioning the date of her release had done rounds of debates in Tamil Nadu and among the political parties. However, she hasn't released last month and the recent statement of Sasikala's counsel had again raised the expectations on her release. 

While addressing the reporters on Thursday, Sasikala's counsel Raja Senthura Pandian had confirmed that VK Sasikala would likely be released from the prison by the end of September or early October. Pandian stated that her prison term has been reduced due to her good character and conduct while she was undergoing imprisonment and she would be released with due advice. Earlier in June, Pandian has expressed his confidence that Sasikala will be released from the prison within this year. 

The statement from Sasikala's counsel had come at a high time when the Income Tax department is preparing for the next round of actions against the jailed leader. Recently, the IT department has attached as many as 65 Benami properties, spread over 200 acres in Chennai and its vicinities, that belong to Sasikala. The properties are worth Rs 300 crore and the attached list of properties includes a bungalow that has been under construction in Poes Garden. 

The bungalow is constructed opposite to Veda Nilayam, which was the residence of Jayalalithaa, and the new bungalow is expected to house Sasikala after her release from the prison. These attached properties were bought by Sasikala and her relatives during 2003-05 and the IT department has attached the properties under the provisions of the Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2016. 

The reports say that as the newly constructed bungalow has been attached by the IT department, it's less likely that she will be accommodated in the house after her release. If she gets released as per her counsel's statement, it will be a crucial development in the state politics as it is preparing for the upcoming legislative elections in 2021. The statement has also stirred the speculations in the ADMK party as her return would likely change the party's leadership and would see a revolt ahead of the polls. 

The ruling ADMK party has already been witnessing the race for the Chief Minister for the upcoming elections. Her release has been expected by her supporters in the ADMK party who are hoping that she would start leading the party after three years, but her release may shake the leadership of ADMK which might push the party to a backlash amid the fight between the current leaders to enhance their stronghold. However, the reports stated that she would likely be joining the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, which was founded by her nephew TTV Dhinakaran, which was started as the rival faction against the ADMK.