Another TN minister’s acquittal under HC review

Incumbent Tamil Nadu minister from DMK, I Periyasamy, and AIADMK former minister B Valarmathi joined a growing list of politicians facing the Madras high court’s suo motu revision proceedings against their acquittal or discharge in disproportionate assets (DA) cases. Justice N Anand Venkatesh listed suo motu revision proceedings against the two. In March, the additional special court for cases against MPs and MLAs in Chennai had acquitted Periyasamy of charges of illegal allotment of a Tamil Nadu Housing Board plot to a deputy SP who served as the personal security officer (PSO) of former chief minister M Karunanidhi in 2008. Valarmathi, social welfare minister in the AIADMK government from 2001 to 2006, was acquitted in 2021 in a different DA case. Three DMK ministers - K Ponmudy, Thangam Thennarasu and KKSSR Ramachandran - are facing suo motu proceedings, along with former AIADMK CM O Panneerselvam.