Celebrations as former film star and head of India's powerful Tamil party cleared of corruption

The head of India's largest Tamil party was cleared of corruption yesterday, a verdict that sparked wild celebrations by supporters and paved the way for the return of one of the country's most powerful politicians.

Former film star Jayalalithaa Jayaram was forced to stand down as chief minister of prosperous Tamil Nadu state after being found guilty last September of amassing illegal wealth while in office.

Jayalalithaa was sentenced to four years in jail and fined 1 billion rupees (HK$121 million) in a case that ran for nearly two decades.

But High Court Judge C.R. Kumaraswamy declared her "appeal upheld" at a hearing in the southern city of Bangalore that lasted only seconds.

Jayalalithaa hailed the decision a victory for justice, claiming the case against her had always been politically motivated.

"I have not made any mistakes. And despite the charges against me, the court verdict has made me as shiny as gold," the leader said in a statement, adding the "prayers of Tamil Nadu people" had been answered.

Although Jayalalithaa had been forced to quit as chief minister of the southern state, her return is now seen as a formality as she continued to control her party while on bail awaiting the outcome of the appeal.