Celebrations broke out in Tamil Nadu moments ago when the former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jeyaram was acquitted in the disproportionate assets case against her.

Jayalalithaa, along with aides N Sasikala, VN Sudhakaran and J Elasvarasi, was held guilty of holding unaccounted for income during her tenure as chief minister from 1991-96 by the trial court last year.

However, she appealed against her verdict and the hearing on appeal commenced this morning in Bengaluru. Justice C.R Kumaraswamy, who read judgment at 11 am, said all 4 are acquitted of all charges

A negative verdict in the Karnataka HC would have meant a major setback for Jayalalithaa, whose legal team is said to have readied a contingency plan for this eventuality. It would have also become a big challenge politically for the AIADMK, as the assembly elections are due now in less than a year.

However, this verdict has removed this danger and made it possible for her to be the Chief Minister again.