Supreme Court: The Division Bench of Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti, JJ. stayed the Madras High Court’s order reviving the 2006 disproportionate assets and corruption case against former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and his kin.
The Bench issued a notice seeking a response from Tamil Nadu Police and the original complainants on Panneerselvam’s appeal against Madras High Court’s decision to restore the case against him.
The Madras High Court in a suo motu criminal revision restored the 2006 disproportionate assets and corruption case against former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and his kin, setting aside the Trial Court’s order that permitted the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to withdraw a 2006 disproportionate assets case registered against former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK expelled leader O Panneerselvam and his kin.
Genesis
O. Panneerselvam was elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from Periakulam constituency on an AIADMK ticket in May 2001. Between 19-5-2001 and 21-9-2001 and 02-3-2002 to 12-5-2006, he was the Revenue Minister of the State. On credible information that while holding the posts of Revenue Minister and Chief Minister of the State, he was accused of accumulating properties and pecuniary resources that were disproportionate to his known sources of income, a preliminary enquiry was conducted by the DVAC. Upon finding sufficient material to proceed further, a case was registered by the DVAC on 07-9-2006 against O. Panneerselvam under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
[O Panneerselvam v. State, SLP(Crl) No. 16221/2024, decided on: 29-11-2024]