CHENNAI: Madras high court has set aside a trial court order discharging senior Tamil Nadu minister Durai Murugan and his family members in a Rs 3 crore disproportionate assets case. In his order on Wednesday, Justice P Velmurugan directed the Vellore special court to complete the trial in six months.
In 2002, the DVAC filed the case against Durai Murugan on charges of acquiring assets worth Rs 3.92 crore beyond his declared income during his tenure as the public works department minister from 1996 to 2001.
In 2007, the Vellore special court discharged Durai Murugan, his wife, son, daughter-in-law, and brother in the case. In 2013, during the then AIADMK rule, a review petition was filed against the discharge.
Opposing the appeal, the minister argued that the individual businesses and family income of the other accused were incorrectly shown as his income by the DVAC. He contended that the alleged properties purchased before the relevant time were also included in the case. All the accused filed their income tax returns, which were accepted by the DVAC, he added.
Rejecting the contentions, the court set aside the discharge. Since the case pertains to property acquired between 1996 and 2001, the court directed the trial court to dispose of the trial in six months.
