HC junks DMK minister's acquittal, orders retrial

Less than a year after DMK minister I Periyasamy was acquitted in a 12-year-old case involving allegedly illegal land allotment, Madras HC set aside the special court’s verdict, terming it “tainted by procedural impropriety”. Justice N Anand Venkatesh ordered the court to recommence the trial and schedule proceedings “day to day”, aiming to wrap up the case on or before July 31. The judge, who initiated suo motu revision proceedings, said the March 27, 2023, ruling of the special Chennai court handling cases against MLAs and MPs “suffers from manifest perversity and gross illegality”. He said the “legitimacy of the administration of criminal justice will be eroded and public confidence shaken if MLAs and ministers facing corruption cases can shortcircuit criminal trials by adopting the modus operandi that has been carried out in this case”.