DMK Minister Ponmudy's Wife Challenges Madras HC's Suo Moto Revision Against Their Acquittal In Disproportionate Assets Case In Supreme Court

Justice G Jayachandran of the Madras High Court today (9 October) adjourned the hearing of a suo moto revision of the acquittal of Higher Education minister K Ponmudy and his wife, P Visalatchi in a disproportionate assets case to 19 October, after Senior Counsel NR Elango informed that Visalatchi had filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court challenging the order of the High Court.

The case was heard by Justice Jayachandran as the MP/MLA portfolio has been allotted to him in the absence of Justice N Anand Venkatesh, who is sitting in the Madurai Bench as per the roster prepared earlier this month.

According to a report by The Hindu, while Senior Counsel Elango informed the Court that the matter is likely to be taken up by the Court next week and sought adjournment of the matter to November, Justice Jayachandran refused to do so and said that the accused may choose not to pursue the SLP if he adjourns the matter for so long.

He then adjourned the matter to 19 October and asked Senior Counsel Elango to inform the Court of the status of the SLP in the Supreme Court on that day.

When the hearing had come before Justice Venkatesh, advocates representing Ponmudy and the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) had requested him to recuse from the case as he had made strong remarks while ordering suo moto revision. The DVAC also stated that the case had been taken up before the end of the appeal period.

Justice Venkatesh had refused to recuse from hearing the case.

Also Read: "A Manifest Illegality By A Criminal Court"- Madras HC's Scathing Remarks As It Takes Up Suo Moto Revision Of DMK Minister Ponmudy's Acquittal From DA Case