NEW DELHI (AP) — A charismatic former actress who later joined politics and became the top elected official in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu was sentenced Saturday to four years in prison after a court found her guilty of corruption in a case filed 18 years ago.

Jayaram Jayalalitha will have to step down as chief minister of Tamil Nadu after the court in Bangalore found her guilty of possessing wealth disproportionate to her known sources of income. She also will be disqualified from contesting elections for six years.