'Something Is Rotten..': Madras HC Orders Revision Of Assets Case After Acquittal Of DMK Ministers

During the period 2006-11, the ministers were accused of acquiring wealth disproportionate to their recognised sources of income.

Recently, the two DMK Ministers were acquitted by a court in Virudhunagar district.

The Madras High Court initiated revisions of disproportionate assets case related to the acquittal of Ministers KKSSR Ramachandran and Thangam Thennarasu. The Court on Wednesday suo moto took the case after "smelling a rat" in the matter and ordered notice to all the concerned parties excluding the state. 

On Wednesday, Justice N Anand Venkatesh, who holds the portfolio for MP/MLA cases in the state took up the cases against Minister Thangam Thennarasu and his wife and KKSSR Ramachandran and his spouse. KKSSR's friend also has a case against him. 

The bench said, "This Court smelt a rat and called for the entire records of these two cases. “Something is rotten in the State of Denmark”, said Shakespeare in Hamlet."

"On examining the records, this Court is of the considered opinion that something is very rotten in the Special Court for MP/MLA Cases at Srivilluputhur,” it said, as reported by PTI.

During the period 2006-11, the ministers were accused of acquiring wealth disproportionate to their recognised sources of income.

Both the case, Justice Venkatesh observed that it demonstrated a "well-orchestrated pattern" in that discharge applications were filed in all cases, and the cases were delayed for months and years until 2021.

Recently, the two DMK Ministers were acquitted by a court in Virudhunagar district.

As a result, Justice Anand Venkatesh said that he has no hesitation in holding that this was a case where he must exercise his revisional powers suo moto under Article 227 of the Constitution and Sections 397/401 Cr.P.C. In case of such nature, he said that it was the duty of the High Court to interfere and prevent miscarriage of justice. 

The move also follows the revision of acquittal of Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy and his wife by a court in Vellore in assets case in June this year.