3rd Tamil Nadu minister to face graft trial after HC nixes discharge order

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu's rural development minister I Periyasamy will face trial in a Rs 2 crore disproportionate assets case after Madras high court overturned Monday his discharge by a Dindigul court and ordered the trial's completion within six months.

Veteran politician Periyasamy becomes the third minister in the current DMK-led govt - after Duraimurugan and MRK Panneerselvam - to have a discharge order reversed by the Madras high court. Justice P Velmurugan, allowing a revision petition filed by directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption (DVAC), directed the special court for cases against MPs and MLAs in Dindigul toreopen proceedings against the Tamil Nadu rural development minister.

DVAC's chargesheet accuses Periyasamy, his wife Suseela, and sons Senthilkumar, an MLA, and Prabhu of amassing assets between 2006 and 2010. The Dindigul court had earlier discharged all four, prompting DVAC to appeal to Madras high court.

Counsel for TN rural development minister argued the FIR was flawed and based on erroneous calculations of his family's assets.