The Madras High Court sentenced Minister Ponmudi to three years of imprisonment in a disproportionate assets case on Thursday. The Court also imposed a fine of Rs 50 lakh on the Minister and his wife Visalakshi. The Court suspended the quantum of punishment for 30 days. The Court pronounced the verdict at 10.30 AM on Thursday. Earlier, Justice Jayachandran set aside the trial court order acquitting the Minister and his wife in the case while allowing an appeal by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC).
According to ANI, Madras High Court sentenced Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy to 3 years of simple imprisonment in a disproportionate assets case The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50 lakhs each on Ponmudy and his wife The court suspended the sentence for 30 days for Ponmudy as he is currently holding the Higher Education department portfolio.
On Thursday, the Minister and his wife submitted their medical record and said it is a very old case. The Minister is 73 years old while his wife is 60 years old.
Earlier, Justice Jayachandran convicted Ponmudi and his wife Visalakshi of amassing wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income by 64.90%. The Minister was found guilty in the DA case for accumulating wealth during 2006-11 when he held the post of high education, mines and mineral minister.
The couple was prosecuted during AIADMK regime for accumulating wealth beyond income.
On June 28, 2023, the trial court acquitted the Minister. Villpuram District Anti-Corruption SP Kanniyappan held the probe in connection with the case. The Anti-Corruption Bureau filed chargesheets in the case and investigated hundreds of people. The case was first tried in Villupuram Chief Criminal Court. However, it was later changed to Villupuram Anti-Corruption Special Court in 2015, according to a report on ANI.
In 2022, the case was transferred to Vellore District Principal Sessions Court.
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