Madras HC Overturns Acquittal, Convicts DMK Minister K Ponmudi In Disproportionate Assets Case

The Minister reportedly amassed wealth while he served as Minister for Mines and Minerals in DMK government in 2006-11.

The judge directed Ponmudi and his wife to appear before the court on December 21.

The Madras High Court set aside an order of a trial court acquitting Higher Education Minister and DMK leader K Ponmudy and his wife P Visalakshi in Rs 1.75 crore disproportionate assets case on Tuesday. Justice G Jayachandran passed the orders finding the Minister guilty for accumulating assets by 64.9% more than his known sources of income.

The Minister reportedly amassed wealth while he served as Minister for Mines and Minerals in DMK government in 2006-11. The prosecution contended that Ponmudy accumulated wealth amounting to Rs 1.75 crore in his and his wife's name, which was disproportionate to his known sources of income during his tenure as a Minister from 2006 to 2011 in the DMK regime.

The judge directed Ponmudi and his wife to appear before the court on December 21. He also said that the sentence would be pronounced on that day. 

In 2016, Ponmudi and his wife P Visalatchi were acquitted in a disproportionate assets case under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) by a special court. The case was initiated by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) after AIADMK assumed power in 2011. The acquittal resulted from the prosecution's failure to substantiate charges beyond a reasonable doubt. The DVAC contested the acquittal, filing an appeal in 2017 before the High Court. Allegations included the DMK leader amassing Rs 1.36 crore in assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The minister is likely to face disqualification, which will be clear following the pronouncement of the sentence by the court, according to a report on PTI.

Earlier, the Madras High Court's single bench decided to suo moto review a case on the acquittal of Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K Ponmudi and his wife in a disproportionate assets case. 

Meanwhile, Enforcement Directorate questioned the Minister and froze his fixed deposit of Rs 41.9 crore on July 17-18.