New Delhi: The Madras High Court on Thursday sentenced Tamil Nadu’s Higher Education Minister and DMK leader, K Ponmudy, along with his wife P Visalakshi, to three years in prison under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The ruling pertains to a disproportionate assets case amounting to Rs 1.75 crore, and the court has additionally imposed a fine of Rs 50 lakh on both accused parties.
The court order stipulates that failure to pay the imposed fine will result in an additional six months of imprisonment for Ponmudy and his wife. Seeking legal recourse, Senior Counsel N R Ellango, representing the accused, requested the court’s permission to file a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court. The judge granted a 30-day leave for this purpose and also suspended the sentence for the same duration. However, upon the conclusion of the suspension period, the accused are obligated to surrender before the trial court in Villupuram.
Legal experts have indicated that Ponmudy’s conviction renders him disqualified from his position as an MLA, and he will subsequently lose his ministerial post. The verdict underscores the legal and political ramifications for a prominent figure within the DMK leadership, raising questions about the broader impact on the political landscape in Tamil Nadu.
The case revolves around allegations of Ponmudy and his wife amassing disproportionate assets totaling Rs 1.75 crore. The court’s decision to convict and sentence them under the Prevention of Corruption Act highlights the severity of the charges and reflects the judiciary’s commitment to addressing corruption at all levels.
With the leave granted for filing a Special Leave Petition, the legal battle for Ponmudy and his wife is poised to continue in the Supreme Court. The temporary suspension of the sentence provides a brief reprieve, but the impending surrender after the 30-day period signifies that the legal process will proceed.
