The Madras High Court has issued notice in the petition filed by Tamil Nadu’s Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, MRK Panneerselvam, challenging the initiation of criminal proceedings against him in a disproportionate assets case. Justice N. Satish Kumar directed that a notice be served on the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Cuddalore, in respect of the plea filed under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code and Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The Court also dispensed with the requirement of the Minister’s personal appearance before the Special Court.
The case against Panneerselvam concerns allegations of accumulating assets disproportionate to known sources of income during his tenure as Minister for Backward Classes and Welfare between 1996 and 2001, and later as Minister for Health and Family Welfare from 2006 to 2011. In his petition, he sought to quash the continuation of the trial, arguing that it amounts to an abuse of legal process.
Earlier this year in April, the High Court had set aside an order of the trial court that discharged Panneerselvam and his family members. The Court then found that the trial court’s reasoning was perverse and that there were prima facie materials warranting the framing of charges. It directed the Special Court to proceed with the trial and complete it within six months.
In the present petition, Panneerselvam and his family contended that the prosecution failed to consider relevant aspects such as their background and legitimate sources of income. They also argued that constitutional safeguards under Article 20(3) protect them from being compelled to act as witnesses against themselves. However, in its earlier April ruling, the High Court had rejected similar arguments, stating that such defenses could be raised during trial and that there was no compulsion on the accused to self-incriminate. The Court further noted that if the accused had independent sources of income, they should have disclosed them when notices were issued.
The present notice issued by the High Court is part of Panneerselvam’s ongoing attempt to have the disproportionate assets case quashed at the threshold. The Court will now consider responses from the investigating authorities and examine whether continuation of the proceedings is legally sustainable.
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