The Madras high court on Thursday ordered notice to former Chief Minister and deposed AIADMK leader O Paneerselvam and his relatives on a criminal revision case initiated by it, following their discharge in a disproportionate wealth case by a trial court in December 2012.
Justice N Anand Venkatesh, who initiated the criminal revision case, also directed Paneerselvam, his wife and son, his two brothers and their wives to remain present before the court for hearing on September 27. The judge also ordered notice to the State government, returnable by September 27, 2023. The judge directed the Registry to place a copy of his order before the Chief Justice for information.
The case of the prosecution — Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) — was that Paneerselvam had amassed wealth in his name and in the names of his relatives, which was 374 per cent times disproportionate to his known sources of income during his tenure as CM for four months and subsequently as Revenue Minister between the period from 2001 to 2006.
Narrating the sequence of events and pointing out the flaws in the procedure followed by the prosecution and the trial court, the judge said it once again reveals a calculated attempt by those at the helm of political power to distort and subvert the course of criminal justice.
The court said given these admitted facts the question that now arises is whether a prima facie case has been made out to issue notice to the accused to suo motu revise and set aside the order of the Sivaganga court.
“The court is not obvious of the fact that 10 years have rolled by since the order of the CJM, Sivaganga. The facts catalogued in Para 25 are shocking and disturbing. They disclose a grave illegality at every stage which shows a well-orchestrated plan,” the judge added.
