TN: Madras HC Takes Suo Moto Revision Of Lower Court's Acquittal Of DMK Minister Ponmudy In Disproportionate Assets Case

Justice N Anand Venkatesh of the Madras High Court has taken suo moto revision of a lower court's decision to acquit senior Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) minister K Ponmudy and his wife Visalakshi in a case filed against them by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) for acquiring assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.

The hearing is scheduled in the post-lunch session today (10 August).

They were acquitted by the principal district court in Vellore on 28 June.

The suo moto revision has been called for under Section 397 of the CrPC (calling for records to exercise powers of revision).

They were acquitted by the principal sessions judge in Vellore, Justice N Vasanthaleela, who said that the prosecution had failed to provide sufficient proof to hold them guilty.

Days later Ponmudy was acquitted on similar grounds in a land-grabbing case. The prosecution alleged that Ponmudy had illegally acquired 3,630 sq. ft. of government land in Chennai's Saidapet area between 1996 and 2001 when he served as the Transport Minister in the DMK regime and registered it in the name of his mother-in-law.

Last month, he was raided by Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in connection with a case of laundering money obtained through proceeds from illegal quarrying of red sand.

Also Read: 'DMK Minister Ponmudy And His Son Laundered Proceeds Of Illegal Sand Mining To Purchase Companies In Indonesia And UAE', Says ED