DMK Minister K Ponmudy Sentenced to 3 Years in Disproportionate Assets Case
In a major legal development, the Madras High Court has handed down a three-year simple imprisonment sentence to K Ponmudy, Tamil Nadu's Higher Education Minister, in connection with a ₹1.75-crore disproportionate assets case. The court's ruling follows Ponmudy's conviction on Tuesday, overturning a trial court's earlier acquittal. The case revolves around Ponmudy allegedly accumulating wealth exceeding 65.99% of his known sources of income during his tenure as a minister from 2006 to 2011. The judge highlighted a "complete miscarriage of justice" and unsustainable reasons for the previous acquittal, emphasizing the need for the appellate court's intervention. Ponmudy Convicted: Assets Scandal Alongside the imprisonment term, the Madras High Court imposed a fine of ₹50 lakhs on both Ponmudy and his wife. The case initially resulted in their acquittal in 2016, but the high court deemed the verdict erroneous, emphasizing the overwhelming evidence against th...