Madras HC grants six more months to complete trial in disproportionate asset cases against Ministers Duraimurugan, M.R.K. Panneerselvam
The Hindu
Madras HC extends trial period by six months for disproportionate asset cases against Ministers Duraimurugan and M.R.K. Panneerselvam.
The Madras High Court on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) extended by six months the time limit for completion of trial in the disproportionate assets cases against Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam and their family members, which had been pending since 2002.
Justice A.D. Jagadish Chandira accepted the request made by the trial courts for extension of time by six months. Additional Public Prosecutor K.M.D. Muhilan said Justice P. Velmurugan had in April 2025 directed the sessions courts to complete the trial within six months, but they could not do so.
The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption (DVAC) had booked the case against Mr. Duraimurugan, his wife D. Santhakumari, brother Durai Singaram, son D.M. Kathir Anand (now a Member of Parliament representing Vellore Lok Sabha constituency) and daughter-in-law K. Sangeetha in 2002.
The charge was they had amassed wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income between 1996 and 2001. Mr. Duraimurugan had served as the Public Works Minister in former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s Cabinet during the check period.
The case was registered after the AIADMK returned to power in the State in 2001. However, in 2007, a special court for hearing cases booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1988 in Vellore discharged the Minister and his family members from the case booked by the DVAC.
The investigating agency filed a revision petition in the High Court in 2013 challenging the discharge orders. The High Court, in 2013, condoned the delay of 1,789 days in preferring the revision, but the main petition was kept pending for nearly 12 years until Justice Velmurugan heard them in 2025.
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Madras HC extends trial period by six months for disproportionate asset cases against Ministers Duraimurugan and M.R.K. Panneerselvam.