Following the conviction and sentencing of senior DMK leader and now dethroned Minister K. Ponmudi, BJP MLA from Coimbatore South has called for taking action against the errant judges who had acquitted him.
The Higher Education Minister, formerly in charge of Higher Education and Mineral Resources during the 2006-2011 DMK regime, received a three-year prison sentence along with a ₹50 lakh fine from the Madras High Court.
In a recent press release, Vanathi Srinivasan, emphasised that the judiciary’s decision, coming 12 years after the case was filed in 2011, instills confidence in the legal system. Despite Ponmudi’s acquittal by the Villupuram District Anti-Corruption Special Court, the Madras High Court’s conviction serves as a crucial lesson for individuals in power and public life.
The press release delves into another disproportionate asset case against Minister Ponmudi, which was initially pending in the Villupuram District Principal Court. The sudden transfer of the case to Vellore District Court, followed by an ex officio order by the Madras High Court in 2022, resulted in Ponmudi’s acquittal from the disproportionate asset charges.
Vanathi Srinivasan expressed concern over the controversy surrounding Ponmudi’s cases. Notably, the Madras High Court took up the case independently while another case was still pending, leading to Ponmudi’s conviction. A previous report from 17 August 2023 condemned what was described as an abuse of power to shield Ponmudi in one of the cases. The High Court was shocked by Ponmudi’s attempts to evade the corruption charges, utilising various means, including leveraging the power of the government.
ஊழல் வழக்கில் அமைச்சர் பொன்முடிக்கு மூன்றாண்டுகள் சிறை தண்டனை – ஊழல்வாதிகளுக்கு ஒரு பாடம்.
திமுக அமைச்சர்கள் மீதான ஊழல் வழக்கை திமுக கூட்டணி கட்சிகள் ஆட்சி செய்யாத வேறொரு மாநிலத்திற்கு மாற்ற வேண்டும்
2006-11 திமுக ஆட்சியில் உயர்கல்வி, கனிமவளத் துறை அமைச்சராக இருந்தபோது,… pic.twitter.com/jjRvBSRI3A
— Vanathi Srinivasan (@VanathiBJP) December 21, 2023
In her press release, Vanathi Srinivasan called attention to the need for a transfer of corruption cases involving DMK ministers. She cited the precedent set by the DMK itself during the case against Ms. Jayalalithaa, advocating for the transfer of her corruption case to Bengaluru during her tenure as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. With multiple ministers in the current DMK government facing corruption investigations, Vanathi Srinivasan proposed moving these cases to states where DMK alliance parties are not in power.
Speaking to reporters, the BJP woman leader also called for taking action against judges who had helped in getting the DMK Minister acquitted.
“The trials against Ponmudi was happening at Vizhuppuram court. That was transferred to another court through an administrative order. He did not ask for the case to be transferred. Nobody had petitioned to transfer the case from Vizhuppuram to another court. But those in power transferred and made a judge who was about to retire to hear the case and acquit him. Ministers, MPs, MLAs getting involved in corruption and convicted is one thing. On the other hand, action should be taken against those judges who are helping them.”, Vanathi Srinivasan said.
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