Min to face trial as HC quashes his discharge

Chennai: Madras high court on Friday set aside an order discharging Tamil Nadu agriculture minister M R K Panneerselvam and his family members from a disproportionate assets case. The case pertains to FIRs registered by the DVAC for offences committed by the minister to the tune of 3 crore between 1996-2001 and 2006-2011, while he was a minister in the then DMK govt.

The Cuddalore special court for cases against MPs and MLAs passed an order discharging the minister and his family from the case.

Aggrieved, the DVAC during the then AIADMK regime filed a review petition in the High Court. Opposing the plea, the minister contended that the assets in question were either family assets or belonging to charitable trusts, and that the Cuddalore Court's decision to discharge them was correct.

Refusing to concur, Justice P Velmurugan set aside Cuddalore court's order and directed it to complete trial in six months.