Another setback for the ruling DMK government in Tamil Nadu as the Madras High Court has reversed the special court’s ruling that cleared DMK Cabinet Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, I Periyasamy, of accusations related to the irregular allocation of plots in the Tamil Nadu Housing Board to former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi’s personal security officer during his tenure of 2006-2011.
Justice N Anand Venkatesh has instructed the trial court to conduct daily proceedings and conclude the trial by 31st July, as part of the final order in the suo-motu criminal revision.
#BREAKING | அமைச்சர் ஐ.பெரியசாமியை விடுவித்த உத்தரவு ரத்து#IPeriyasamy | #ChennaiHighCourt | #MadrasHighCourt pic.twitter.com/5Ara13GbY8
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The judge has mandated that all the accused, including Minister I Periyasamy, post a bond of Rs. 1 lakh each and appear before the special court for the trial.
On September 8 last year, Justice N Anand Venkatesh remarked that the situation presented “yet another textbook case of how the criminal justice system has been successfully subverted from within” during the suo motu criminal revision initiated against Periyasamy’s discharge from the plot allotment case.
In 2012, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) filed a case against Minister I Periyasamy, alleging that, during the DMK regime between 2007 and 2011, he unlawfully acquired a High Income Group (HIG) plot in the Mogappair Eri Scheme of the TNHB for C Ganesan, an inspector in SB-CID and PSO to the then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.
The DVAC claimed that Ganesan had submitted an undated application to M. Karunanidhi, falsely stating that his family resided in a private house while concealing the fact that he actually lived in TNHB Housing quarters.
However, following a change in the regime in 2011, the DVAC initiated a corruption case against Ganesan and Periyasamy. A charge sheet was filed in a special court, which rejected various discharge petitions filed by Periyasamy, keeping the case active.
In 2021, after a change in the state’s leadership, Periyasamy reassumed the ministerial position. The Special court for MP/MLA cases ordered the discharge of Periyasamy from the case.
Previously, Senior Advocate Ranjit Kumar, representing Periyasamy, contended that the trial initiated against Periyasamy was flawed as it was based on sanction from the Speaker of the House instead of the proper authority, the Governor. He argued that the trial lacked legal validity.
Kumar further pointed out that the trial court, while rejecting the initial discharge petition, acknowledged the need to hear the Speaker’s arguments. Hence, he asserted that the second discharge petition, filed after the trial commenced and witness examination, should be considered valid based on the trial court’s earlier ruling.
The court, however, raised concerns about the DVAC’s failure to secure prosecution sanction, even after the trial court discharged the Minister due to inadequate sanction. The court emphasized that this issue reflected a systemic problem that required resolution. Additionally, the court expressed the importance of sending a message to the public that it could take action against individuals in the highest positions.
It’s worth highlighting that DMK ministers are consistently under scrutiny in various corruption cases. Former Excise Minister V Senthil Balaji is presently in jail, seeking bail in connection with a corruption case. The corruption case involving Former Higher Education Minister Ponmudi is also active in court proceedings. Currently, a suo motu revision is underway in the corruption case of the Rural Development Minister I Periyasamy.
(From Inputs With DTNEXT)
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