The Madras High Court has rejected a plea from former DMK minister and party deputy general secretary Durai Murugan to provide one more opportunity to submit his reply in connection with a disproportionate assets case.
Originally, the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (V&AC) department registered a case against Durai Murugan, representing Katpadi Assembly constituency, and his wife for offences under Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. By a notice dated March 11 this year, he and his wife were directed by the DSP, V&AC, Vellore to send his reply to a questionnaire form, on or before March 20. Challenging this, Durai Murugan had approached the High Court, which by an order dated April 10 last disposed of the same.
The petitioner could not have any grievance to the impugned questionnaire, as he had the option to ignore it, if so advised, the order had said.
Pursuant to this, the DSP issued another notice dated April 25 last asking the petitioner and his wife to give accounts of the assets and it was labelled as the final opportunity notice. Hence, the present petition to quash the April 25 notice.
Holding that the petitioner could not ask for one more opportunity at this stage to forestall the investigation in the case, Justice K Chandru dismissed the petition.