CHENNAI: A day after setting aside the order of discharge of Minister for Water Resources and DMK general secretary Duraimurugan from a 2002 disproportionate assets case, the Madras High Court on Thursday revived another such case against him and ordered the trial court to dispose of it within six months.
Justice P Velmurugan, while allowing the review petition filed by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), set aside the 2017 order of the special court in Vellore, which discharged Duraimurugan and his wife D Santhakumari from the case registered in 2011 for amassing Rs 1.40 crore during the check period (between 2007 and 2009) when he was a minister in the DMK government (2006-11).
The judge directed the trial court to speed up the proceedings by holding them on a daily basis and complete the trial within six months.
The DVAC pitched for reviving the case, while Duraimurugan and his wife argued that the assets shown in the case were purchased well before the check period and the tax was duly paid for the income during the relevant period. They also argued that the trial court had discharged them from the case only after proper appreciation of the evidence, and sought dismissal of the review petition.
On Wednesday, Justice Velmurugan had set aside a 2007 order of the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court discharging Duraimurugan, his wife Santhakumari and his son and DM Kathir Anand from a 2002 case registered for amassing Rs 3.92 crore assets during the check period 1996-2001.
‘Speed up proceedings’
Justice P Velmurugan directed the trial court to speed up the proceedings by holding them on a daily basis. Duraimurugan and his wife argued that the assets shown in the case were purchased well before the check period