Jayalalitha: India court clears ex-Tamil Nadu leader of corruption
An appeals court in India has cleared former chief minister of the southern state of Tamil Nadu Jayaram Jayalalitha of involvement in a corruption scandal.
Ms Jayalalitha was convicted and sentenced for four years by a trial court in September.
She was found guilty of amassing unaccounted-for wealth of more than $10m (£6.4m) and had to quit as the chief minister.
Monday's ruling means she can return as the head of Tamil Nadu government.
Jayalalitha, a former actress, is one of India's most controversial and colourful politicians. She has been a leading figure in south Indian politics for three decades.
"Truth and justice have prevailed," Ms Jayalalitha said in a statement after the court order.
"I am immensely satisfied, the verdict has paved the way for me to emerge as tested pure gold," she added.
As soon as the high court in the southern state of Karnataka announced its verdict on Monday morning, Ms Jayalalitha's supporters began celebrating outside the court in Bangalore.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-32686487
