Tamil Nadu: Fresh Trouble For Ruling DMK As Illegal Red Sand Quarrying Scam Comes Back To Haunt DMK Minister Ponmudy, MP Son

In another setback to ruling DMK, the Madras High Court today (19 June) refused to stay further proceedings in a corruption case against Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy, his son P Gowthamsigamani (currently a member of Kallakurichi Lok Sabha constituency ) and others.

The case is pending before the Villupuram Principal Sessions Court which is the designated Special Court for cases against MPs and MLAs.

Ponmudy faces allegation of misusing his position as Minister for Mines and Mineral Resources between 2007 and 2011, to secure red sand quarrying licenses for his son Gowthamsigamani and others.

The plea moved by Gowthamasigamani sought the case to be quashed and a stay order be provided till the time the High Court took a decision on quashing the case. He is the second accused in the case.

Justice G. Chandrasekharan of the Madras High Court, while dismissing the petition, pointed out that the allegation against the petitioner and other accused was that they had quarried 2,64,644 loads of excess red sand.

The single-bench judge also said that there was also a bar under Section 19(3)(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for the granting of stays and dismissed the petition.

In November 2022, the Madras High Court had refused to discharge Ponmudy in the illegal red sand quarrying case.

“In this case, on consideration of the statement of the witnesses and documents produced by the prosecution, this court finds that there is sufficient ground for proceeding against the petitioner. The circumstances emerging from the record of the case, indicated the involvement of the accused persons in the alleged offence,” Justice M. Nirmal Kumar said dismissing the petition.

A six-time legislator and influential party leader, Ponmudy has been a minister in the last four DMK governments.

Red Sand Quarrying Case

Ponmudy was booked under various provisions of the Tamil Nadu Minor Minerals Concession Act, Prevention of Corruption Act, and various sections of IPC Act for conspiracy, assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty, theft, criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal intimidation. 

The police filed the case based on the complaint of Vanur Tahsildar alleging that lessees excavated beyond permissible limits thereby illegally prospected 2,46,646 units of red sand, causing loss of Rs. 28.37 crore to the state exchequer. According to the police, lessees (Gowthamasigamani and associates) indulged in gross violations of rules governing minor minerals.

In October 2012, Ponmudy was arrested from his residence in Villupuram town in the red sand quarrying case. Ponmudy's arrest came after Madras high court refused to grant him anticipatory bail in the case. He was lodged in Trichy Central Prison.

Accepting the argument of the state Advocate General , Madras High Court Justice G M Akbar Ali had observed that the gravity of the offence was enormous and considering the status of the petitioners, who were influential persons, they might tamper with the witness and that they might also abscond.

"The natural resources of mother earth have been devoured witH greed, which is a crime committed against her.” Justice Ali further added.

In August 2011. Ponmudy was arrested by the ADMK government in a land grabbing case following a complaint filed by an office bearer of Thanthai Periyar Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association accusing him of acquiring 61,600 sq. ft of land meant for utilities for residents there in connivance with the secretary of the Thanthai Periyar Transport Corporation Cooperative Housing Society through a bogus resolution.

Ponmudy was alleged to have later transferred the land to the educational trust run by his family.

Ponmudy also faced allegations of grabbing about 3,600 square feet of government land at Saidapet in 1998 using fabricated documents when he was the transport minister in Karunanidhi cabinet.