In a huge relief for former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, the Karnataka High Court on Monday set aside her conviction in the disproportionate assets case paving the way for her return to active politics.

Soon after the High Court assembled, Justice CR Kumaraswamy pronounced the judgement acquitting her in the 18-year-old disproportionate assets case starting wild celebrations by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) workers and leaders in Bengaluru and back in Tamil Nadu.

With her acquittal, her disqualification under the Representation of People's Act (RPA) also stands cancelled and she can become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu once again. She can now take over as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister by removing her aide O Paneerselvam and then lead the AIADMK in the Assembly election due in May 2016.

With her acquittal, her disqualification under the Representation of People's Act also stands cancelled.

A special court had convicted her in the disproportionate assets case (known as DA case) and sent her to jail in September 2014. Thereafter, Jayalalithaa and four others including her closest aide VK Sasikala Natarajan, her estranged foster son Sudhakaran and J Ilavarasi were sent to Bengaluru central prison.

They were released after obtaining a conditional bail and suspension of sentencing by the Supreme Court a month later.

Former Karnataka Advocate General BV Acharya, who actually proved the charges against her in the case, was reappointed as the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) in the case after the Supreme Court ordered the removal of previous SPP Bhavani Singh, who was allegedly favouring Jayalalithaa.

The case was transferred to a special court in neighbouring Karnataka by the Supreme Court to ensure an impartial trial after Jayalalithaa's rivals alleged that she was managing the prosecution and influencing judiciary.

Soon after the verdict was pronounced, thousands of AIADMK workers, leaders and supporters started celebrating. The Bengaluru City Police had made elaborate security arrangements in and around the Karnataka High Court premises to prevent any untoward incidents after the verdict. The police also imposed prohibitory orders in the area from 6 o'clock in Monday morning to 9 o'clock in the night.