In a case involving disproportionate assets, the Madras High Court on Thursday convicted Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy to three years in prison under the Prevention of Corruption Act. As a result, he lost his position as minister and was banned from serving as an MLA.
Based on the information obtained, P Vishalakshi, K. Ponmudy’s wife, was also given a three-year jail sentence by Judge G Jayachandran. Ponmudy and his spouse were also fined Rs 50 lakh apiece by the judge. The minister and his spouse were already found guilty by the High Court and given a sentence today.
To allow him to file a special leave petition before the Supreme Court, senior counsel NR Elango asked the court to grant him leave and suspend the sentence while speaking on behalf of the offenders. In response, the judge delayed the sentence for 30 days and gave 30 days of leave. The judge declared that he would have to turn himself up to the trial court in Villupuram at the end of the suspension time.