The Madras High Court has refused to stay proceedings in the corruption case against Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudi. The case relates to Ponmudi allegedly using his position as Minister for Mines and Mineral resources between 2007 and 2011 to obtain quarry licenses for his son, friends, and relatives.
The prosecution alleges that Ponmudi’s son, P. Gowtham Sigamani, exceeded the permitted limit of red sand excavated, which resulted in a loss of Rs 28,36,40,600 to the public exchequer. The Madras High Court dismissed a petition filed by the Minister’s son, who was the second accused in the case.
Justice G. Chandrasekharan of the Madras High Court, while dismissing the petition, said that he was of the opinion that there are grounds for framing charges against the petitioner for violating the quarry license conditions. He also noted that there was a bar under Section 19(3)(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 for granting stays.
The case was pending before the Villupuram Principal Sessions Court, which is also a special court for trying cases against Members of Parliament or Members of Legislative Assembly. With the Madras High Court refusing to stay the trial, the trial is expected to proceed.
