Chennai
The Madras High Court overturned the trial court’s decision that acquitted Tamil Nadu Education Minister K Ponmudi in the Disproportionate Assets (DA) case. Justice G Jayachandran, in response to an appeal by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), set aside the trial court’s judgment and directed Ponmudi and his wife to appear before the court on December 21.
The case dates back to the DMK’s rule from 2006 to 2011 when Ponmudi and his wife were accused of accumulating assets beyond their income during the AIADMK regime in 2011. The investigation, led by Villupuram District Anti-Corruption Superintendent of Police Kanniyappan, alleged that they amassed over Rs 1.36 crore in assets. Initially, tried in the Villupuram Chief Criminal Court, the case shifted to the Villupuram Anti-Corruption Special Court in 2015 and later to the Vellore District Principal Sessions Court in November 2022. Despite the trial court’s acquittal citing insufficient evidence, the Madras High Court took up the case suo motu, emphasizing the significance of the matter. Earlier, Ponmudi’s appeal in the Supreme Court seeking consideration in the DA case was dismissed.
