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World

Powerful south Indian politician freed on bail after being convicted of corruption

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    Security personnel escort former chief minister of Tamil Nadu state Jayaram Jayalalitha as she travels in a car after being released from prison in Bangalore, India, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014. India's top court Friday granted temporary bail to a charismatic southern Indian politician who was sentenced to four years in prison for corruption last month. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) (The Associated Press)

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    Former chief minister of Tamil Nadu state Jayaram Jayalalitha waves to supporters as she travels in car after being released from prison in Bangalore, India, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014. India's top court Friday granted temporary bail to a charismatic southern Indian politician who was sentenced to four years in prison for corruption last month. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) (The Associated Press)

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    Supporters of former chief minister of Tamil Nadu state Jayaram Jayalalitha, a former movie star, hold her portrait and celebrate with firecrackers outside their party office in Chennai, India, Friday, Oct. 17, 2014. India's top court Friday granted temporary bail to the charismatic southern Indian politician who was sentenced to four years in prison after being found guilty of corruption last month. The 65-year-old requested bail because she said she suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure and needed medical attention. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K) (The Associated Press)

NEW DELHI – Southern India's powerful politician Jayaram Jayalalitha has been released on bail after being convicted and sentenced to four years for corruption.

The 65-year-old former film star walked out of a prison in Bangalore on Saturday after spending 22 days behind bars. Jayalalitha was forced to step down as the highest elected official in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, after a court in Bangalore last month found her guilty of possessing wealth disproportionate to her income.

The Supreme Court allowed her release Friday after she argued she needed medical attention for diabetes and high blood pressure. It threatened to cancel her bail unless she provided all documents related to the corruption case by Dec. 18.

She has asked a lower court to suspend her sentence while she appeals her conviction.