Tamil Nadu: DMK minister K Ponmudy gets 3-year jail term in Rs 1.75 crore disproportionate assets case

In a big blow to the DMK government in Tamil Nadu, the Madras High Court Thursday sentenced state's higher education minister K Ponmudy and his wife to 3 years of imprisonment in a Rs 1.75 crore disproportionate assets case.Also, a fine of Rs 50 lakhs each has been slapped on both Ponmudy and his wife P Visalakshi.The High Court further said if the minister and his wife fail to pay fine, they will have to undergo six more months of imprisonment.The Judge also suspended the sentence for 30 days since Ponmudy is currently minister of higher education of Tamil Nadu.The Judge also said convicts can work out their remedy before the Supreme Court during the next 30 days and said a decision on extending the time will be considered later if they could not work out their remedy before the apex court by then.On Tuesday, the High Court convicted the DMK minister and his wife in the case, setting aside a trial court’s order which acquitted them.Ponmudy disproportinate assets caseThe case pertains to Ponmudy amassing wealth disproportionately to the tune of Rs 1.75 crore in his and his wife's name which was 65.99 per cent more than his known sources of income when he was a minister in the DMK-led regime between 2006 to 2011.A trial court in Villupuram, however, acquitted them in 2016. On 19 December this year, the Madras High Court set aside that verdict and noted that the charge of offence punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, stands proved against both accused.With inputs from agencies