TN: Corruption Case Against DMK Minister K Ponmudy: Madras High Court Refuses Stay; Proceedings To Continue In MP-MLA Special Court

The Madras High Court today (19 June) refused to stay further proceedings in a case against Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy for allegedly misusing his position as Minister for Mines and Mineral Resources between 2007 and 2011, to secure red sand quarrying licenses for his son P Gowthamsigamani and others.

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

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.

The accused allegedly mined 2,64,644 truck loads of excess red sand which caused a loss of around Rs 28 crore to the exchequer.

Dismissing the petition, the judge said that there were enough grounds to presume that the accused have committed the offence mentioned and that the Prevention of Corruption Act had barred the granting of stay orders under Section 19 (3) (c).