Jayalalithaa's niece stopped from entering Poes Garden home, alleges conspiracy

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Deepa Jayakumar, the niece of J Jayalalithaa, was prevented from entering the former Tamil Nadu chief minister's Poes Garden residence this afternoon.

Deepa Jayakumar, who floated her own party the MGR Amma Deepa Peravai after Jayalalithaa's death, said she was prevented from entering Poes Garden by her brother Deepak, who she has accused of joining the Sasikala camp.

"Looks like Deepak Kumar cheated us by joining Sasikala," Deepa Jayakumar told ANI.

She also alleged that Deepak had "connived" with Sasikala to "plot" Jayalalithaa's death.

AIADMK Amma camp sources, who were present at the residence, denied that Deepa was attacked. They said she made an unscheduled visit and wanted to garland a portrait of her late aunt kept in the front porch of the sprawling house.

Deepa was allowed to garland the portrait after which she wanted to enter the house, which was not permitted, they said.

"Suddenly, she wanted to enter the house to which we said we don't have the authority to allow. We also pointed to her that the house was locked and asked her to leave the premises," the sources told PTI.

"If anybody violates law, the law will take its own course. That is what has happened,"Tamil Nadu minister D Jayakumar told ANI.

Sasikala, chief of the AIADMK Amma faction -- formed after the AIADMK split into rival factions after Jayalalithaa's death -- is currently in jail after being sentenced by the top court in a disproportionate assets case.

Sasikala, a close aide of Jayalalithaa, stayed the Poes Garden residence, Veda Nilayam, with her.

Deepa Kumar claims she is legal heir to the Poes Garden property.

The front portion of the house was thrown open to the general public after Jayalalithaa's death in December.

(WION with inputs from agencies)