Disproportionate Assets Case: Madras High Court Convicts Tamil Nadu Minister Ponmudy And His Wife, Sentence To Be Pronounced Later This Week

In a significant development, the Madras High Court has found Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy and his wife P Visalatchi guilty in a case related to disproportionate assets.

The court's decision came on Tuesday (19 December), overturning an earlier acquittal by a special court for Prevention of Corruption Act cases in Villupuram.

Justice G Jayachandran approved a state government appeal from 2017, overturning an order from 18 April 2016, by a special court for Prevention of Corruption Act cases in Villupuram that had acquitted both defendants.

As reported by The Hindu, the judge stated that the trial court made a mistake in acquitting the defendants without properly evaluating the prosecution's case.

The judge has summoned the accused couple to appear before the court on 21 December 2023, to present their side before the final sentencing decision is made.

The prosecution's case alleged that the defendants had amassed Rs 1.79 crore during the audit period from 13 April 2006 to 31 March 2010, which was inconsistent with their declared income.

The inability to justify this accumulation led to the charges against them.

Senior counsel N R Elango, representing the defendants, requested the suspension of the sentence for an appeal to the Supreme Court, and the judge noted that this request would be considered on 21 December.