CHENNAI:The Madras High Court here on Wednesday directed a special court to dispose of the 17-year-old disproportionate assets case against former minister C Aranganayakam on a day-to-day basis not later than four months.
Aranganayakam, who served as the minister of education in the State’s sixth assembly, was charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption in 1998.
It was alleged that during his tenure from 1991 to 1996, Aranganayakam appropriated assets worth Rs 1.15 crore that were disproportionate to his known sources of income.
Meanwhile, the trial court made absolute the attachment of Aranganayakam’s properties by the DVAC, which he challenged in the High Court. He also sought the court to quash the entire proceedings of the trail court.
When the appeal came up for hearing, Justice C T Selvam dismissed it, while expressing dissatisfaction over the delay in pursuing the case.
Raising questions as to who is responsible for the pendency of proceedings for over 17 years, the judge directed the trial court to dispose of the case.