Madras High Court Reinstates Disproportionate Assets Case Against DMK Leader Durai Murugan

In a significant legal development, the Madras High Court has overturned a lower court’s decision that had discharged senior DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Minister Durai Murugan in a disproportionate assets case.

The High Court directed a special court in Vellore to frame charges against Durai Murugan and his wife and move forward with the trial.

Second Verdict in Two Days

This ruling follows closely on the heels of a similar verdict issued just a day earlier. On Wednesday, the court passed a near-identical order in another disproportionate assets case from the period between 1996 and 2001, also involving Durai Murugan and his family.

In both cases, Justice P. Velmurugan ordered the Vellore special court to conduct the trials on a day-to-day basis and complete them within six months.

Allegations from Ministerial Tenure

The current case concerns allegations that Durai Murugan accumulated wealth worth ₹1.40 crore, which was allegedly disproportionate to his known sources of income during the period 2007–2009.

At that time, he was serving as the Public Works Department (PWD) Minister in the DMK-led government that ruled from 2006 to 2011.

The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) filed the case in 2011. A special court in Vellore had discharged the minister and his wife in 2017, but the DVAC later challenged the discharge before the High Court.

Family Also Named in Parallel Case

The earlier case, for which the court delivered its verdict on Wednesday, was more expansive.

It involved Durai Murugan, his wife D. Santhakumari, brother Durai Singaram, son D.M. Kathir Anand (now a Lok Sabha MP from Vellore), and daughter-in-law K. Sangeetha. This case dates back to the time when Durai Murugan served as PWD Minister in the Karunanidhi-led Cabinet from 1996 to 2001.

In that case, the DVAC had registered an FIR in 2002, following the return of AIADMK to power under then Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. Raids were conducted at Murugan’s residence and other properties in October 2002.

Despite the charges, the special court in February 2007 had discharged all the accused under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

High Court Sets Aside 2007 Discharge

Justice Velmurugan has now reversed the 2007 discharge and instructed the special court to frame charges against all the accused and proceed with the trial.

The judge emphasized the need for the trial to be fast-tracked and concluded within six months, considering the long delay and the age of the allegations.

Delay in DVAC Appeal Justified

The DVAC filed its revision petitions in 2013, but with a significant delay of 1,789 days.

The High Court accepted the application to condone the delay, taking into account that the DMK was in power from 2006 to 2011, which may have prevented the agency from acting sooner.

Final Hearings Held Earlier This Year

Earlier this year, Justice Velmurugan took up the revision petitions for final hearing. The court heard detailed arguments from senior legal counsel representing the Minister and his family, as well as from Additional Advocate General J. Ravindran, who appeared on behalf of the DVAC.

The judge later reserved and then delivered the verdict, leading to the revival of both cases.

Durai Murugan’s Political Standing

At 86, Durai Murugan currently holds the post of General Secretary in the ruling DMK party and is the second-ranking minister in the Cabinet led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.

With the High Court’s order, both his legal and political battles are expected to intensify in the coming months.