The Madras High Court, on Thursday, reversed a local court’s decision to discharge senior DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Minister Durai Murugan in a disproportionate assets case. The court directed a special court in Vellore to frame charges against Durai Murugan and his wife and proceed with the trial.
This comes one day after a similar order in another disproportionate assets case dating back to the period between 1996 and 2001.
Justice P Velmurugan, who delivered the verdict, instructed the special court to dispose of the case within six months, conducting the trial on a day-to-day basis.
The case pertains to allegations of the minister gathering wealth worth Rs 1.40 crore, which was allegedly disproportionate to his known sources of income during the check period between 2007 and 2009. During this period, Durai Murugan served as the Public Works Department (PWD) Minister in the DMK-led government (2006–2011).
On Wednesday, Justice Velmurugan had passed a similar order in another case that involved not only Durai Murugan but also his family members, and the High Court directed charges to be framed against all involved.
The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) originally filed the case in 2011. In 2017, a special court in Vellore had discharged Durai Murugan and his wife. However, DVAC challenged the discharge order in the High Court, leading to the current ruling.
Written by Disha Maloo
