Chennai Collector hands over Veda Nilayam to legal heirs of Jayalalithaa following court order

Deepa Jayakumar, the niece of late chief minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalithaa, took possession of her aunt's Poes Garden residence on Friday evening after the Chennai district administration handed over the keys to her.

"This is the first time I am visiting in the absence of my aunt. The house looks barren and empty now. The furniture used by my aunt has been removed," Ms Deepa said, expressing her interest in living at her aunt's house.

The keys were handed over to her 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.