Jaya’s niece is new owner of Poes Garden

Chennai: J Deepa, niece of late chief minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalithaa, officially received the keys to the Poes Garden residence of her aunt on Friday, bringing to close a protracted legal battle to obtain the custody of the palatial building.

Chennai Collector J Vijaya Rani officially handed over the keys to Jayalalithaa’s residence after a single-judge bench of the Madras High Court on November 24 paved the way by setting aside the order to acquire Veda Nilayam, the residence of Jayalalithaa, and ordering that it be handed over to the legal heirs.“It’s a big victory. It can’t be considered as an ordinary victory. I am very happy… I feel very emotional as I am stepping into my aunt’s house for the first time after her demise,” Deepa reacted.

Accompanied by her husband Madhavan and well-wishers, Deepa garlanded the portrait of the late chief minister and paid floral tributes.

“This is my birthplace. Memories of the days I spent with my aunt floods my mind,” Deepa said. —(PTI)