DMK minister sentenced to 3-year jail in disproportionate assets case

In a major setback for the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu, the Madras high court on Thursday sentenced senior party leader and state's higher education minister K Ponmudy and his wife to three-year imprisonment in a ₹1.75-crore disproportionate assets case.

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Justice G Jayachandran, who held the couple guilty under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, also imposed a fine of 250 lakh each on Ponmudy (73) and his wife, P Visalakhi (68). The court, however, granted the couple one month to surrender before the trail court to undergo prison sentencing. Consequent to his three-year prison term, Ponmudy stands disqualified as a legislator from Thirukoyyilur constituency, in accordance to the Representation of the People Act. Hours after his sentencing, the DMK government allocated the higher education portfolio to RS Rajakanappan, the backward classes welfare minister in the MK Stalin-led cabinet.

The DMK's legal team said they would challenge the verdict before the Supreme Court. Justice Jayachandran said the sentence is imposed considering the nature of offence, its gravity and its impact on the society and after considering the submissions made by the accused.

On December 19, the high court found the six-time DMK legislator and his wife guilty and had directed them to appear on Thursday.