In a relief to expelled AIADMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, the Supreme Court on Friday stayed a Madras High Court order reinstating a disproportionate assets (DA) case against him and his family members.
A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and S V N Bhatti issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu Police and others, seeking their response to a plea filed by Panneerselvam challenging the High Court’s decision.
The Madras High Court had, on October 29, overturned a 2012 order of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM)/Special Judge, Sivaganga, which allowed the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to withdraw the DA case. The trial court had discharged Panneerselvam and others from the case at that time.
Justice N Anand Venkatesh, who restored the trial, noted that two of the accused had died in the interim, leading to the abatement of proceedings against them. The remaining six accused, including Panneerselvam, were directed to appear before the Special Court for MP/MLA cases in Madurai, which now holds jurisdiction over the case.
The DVAC had accused Panneerselvam of amassing assets 374 times disproportionate to his known sources of income during his tenure as Chief Minister for four months and later as the revenue minister between 2001 and 2006.
The Supreme Court’s stay halts further proceedings in the case for now. Meanwhile, the Madurai special court has been directed to expedite the trial and conduct day-to-day hearings, aiming for a final judgment by June 31, 2025. A compliance report is to be submitted to the High Court’s registrar general.
