Supreme Court Halts Proceedings in Disproportionate Assets Case Against Former Tamil Nadu CM O. Panneerselvam

The Supreme Court issued a stay on the disproportionate assets case against former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam (OPS) and his family members on Friday. 

The court has sought a response from the Tamil Nadu Police regarding OPS’s appeal challenging the Madras High Court’s decision to restore the case against him.

A bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti directed the Tamil Nadu Police and the original complainants to file their responses to the appeal.

In October, the Madras High Court had overturned a lower court’s order from December 3, 2012, which permitted the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to withdraw the 2006 disproportionate assets case against OPS and his relatives. The High Court raised questions about the DVAC’s initial report, which claimed that OPS had assets exceeding 374 percent of his known income but later discharged him after the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) returned to power in 2011.

HC directed that the trial be conducted at the Principal Sessions Court

The High Court directed that the trial in the case be conducted at the Principal Sessions Court in Madurai. The DVAC, under the current DMK regime, had registered a case against OPS for allegedly accumulating wealth amounting to Rs 1.7 crore that was disproportionate to his known sources of income during his tenure as revenue minister from 2001 to 2006.

In 2012, following the AIADMK’s return to power, the DVAC closed the case and OPS was discharged. The Supreme Court’s stay now halts any further proceedings in the case pending the outcome of the appeal.