MADRAS, Oct 9 : A special court in the southern India state of Tamil Nadu sentenced one of the country's most powerful regional leaders, Jayalalitha Jayaram, to three years in prison today for corruption, reports AFP.

The sentence will effectively ban Jayalalitha. a 52-year-old former movie star, from contesting any election for seven years, unless the ruling is admitted under appeal.

Dubbed by critics as India's Imelda Marcos because of her extravagant tastes. Jayalalitha Is a top opposition leader and heads the regional A1ADMK party, a dominant political force In Tamil Nadu, a sprawling coastal state of 60 million people.

The sentence handed down Monday byJudge P. Anbhazhagan related to charges that Jayalalitha. during her rule as chief minister from 1991-96. purchased a large tract of govern-ment land for a fraction of Its true value.

Judge Anbhazhagan also gave Jayalalitha a two-year jail term in a separate case, but ordered the two sentences run concurrently.

Jayalalitha received a one-year

Jail sentence for corruption in February, but has yet to serve any time after bogging the case down in India's lengthy appeals process.

Even if she manages to do the same with the latest ruling, her political career looks like being irreparably damaged, with state elections due early next year.

Existing legislation states that anyone sentenced to prison for a period exceeding two years will be banned from contesting elections for a minimum of six years.

In Jayalalithas case, the period will last seven years, unless she manages to have the verdict taken under appeal.

The Election Commission hasi in recent years, enforced this) provision by mandating all prospective candidates to sign a declaration that they had not been convicted for any offence, while filing their nomination papers.