Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK today said it has disbursed Rs 6.77 crore as relief to families of over 200 persons who died of both natural causes and allegedly committed suicide in the wake of the leader being convicted in a graft case.
A party release here said that 220 persons had died of heart attack and by committing suicides "unable to bear the hardship faced by the high command," while four persons were undergoing medical treatment.
The families of the deceased had been provided with Rs 3 lakh each as relief while the party has offered Rs 50,000 to four persons who were undergoing treatment, it said.
AIADMK ministers today presented Rs 15 lakh to families of five persons in different parts of the state as part of the relief, it added.
Jayalalithaa has appealed to her supporters not to resort to such extreme steps.
In September last, Jayalalithaa was convicted in the Rs 66.66 crore disproportionate assets case, with a Bengaluru special court sentencing her to four years' in prison and slapping a fine of Rs 100 crore.
However, the former Chief Minister had vowed to fight back and had since appealed against her conviction in Bangalore High Court which has reserved its orders on the case.
