Madras High Court Exempts Minister Duraimurugan, Wife from Special Court Appearance

Swift Summary

• The madras High Court has excused water resources Minister Duraimurugan and his wife D. Shanthakumari from appearing before a special court for Prevention of Corruption Act cases in Chennai connected to a 2011 disproportionate assets case.
• The couple was charged by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) for allegedly amassing ₹1.15 crore disproportionate to their income during the period april 1, 2006 to March 31, 2009, when Duraimurugan held ministerial positions under former CM M. Karunanidhi’s Cabinet.
• Prosecution claims their wealth grew from ₹77.46 lakh at the start of this period to ₹2.77 crore by its end,as verified through Income Tax returns and other documentation.
• In January 2017, they were discharged by the Vellore Chief Judicial Magistrate; however, DVAC challenged this decision before the Madras HC.
• Justice P. Velmurugan reversed their discharge in April 2025 and directed them to face trial; later transferring the case from Vellore to Chennai.
• Minister Duraimurugan requested another transfer back to Vellore citing jurisdiction over MLA/Minister-related cases; though, this plea was rejected by a Chennai special court in August 2025 wich then issued an arrest warrant against him.
• Justice N Sathish Kumar has instructed DVAC officials to submit a detailed counter affidavit on October 22 addressing why jurisdiction should not shift back.

Indian Opinion analysis

The case highlights how legal accountability operates within India’s democratic framework concerning allegations against high-ranking politicians accused of corruption-a matter that consistently tests public trust in governance institutions. The procedural pendency spanning over a decade underscores systemic challenges such as delays in prosecution at various judiciary levels.

Key implications include maintaining impartiality across courts ensuring fair trials irrespective of political stature while balancing openness with no undue interference into judicial independence mechanisms hence consistent-precedents setting clarity around Enforcement-Jurisdiction overlaps accelerating victimless queries!! Read more options gleaming tracking via ongoing balanced accountability corridors!–!