August 20, 2025,

The Supreme Court of India ordered a stay on all ongoing proceedings against Tamil Nadu Rural Development Minister I. Periyasamy in a disproportionate assets case. A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and A.G. Masih issued the order while also issuing notice to the concerned parties.

“There shall be stay of proceedings in Special CC No. 27 of 2014 pending before the Chief Judicial Magistrate cum Special Judge for Prevention of Corruption Act Cases, Dindigul.”

Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and V. Giri represented Minister Periyasamy in the proceedings. The Supreme Court’s intervention comes as the Minister challenged the Madras High Court’s earlier ruling, which had set aside his discharge by the trial court in this corruption-related case.

The controversy stems from allegations that I. Periyasamy accumulated wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income during his tenure as Minister for Revenue and Prisons from 2006 to 2011. The Department of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) had calculated that the Minister possessed assets exceeding Rs. 2.01 crore, prompting the registration of a case in 2012 under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Initially, the Special Judge, Dindigul, had discharged Periyasamy and his family, citing insufficient evidence. However, this decision was later challenged before the Madras High Court, where Justice P. Velmurugan set aside the trial court’s discharge order. The High Court instructed the special court to frame charges against the accused and directed that the trial be completed within six months, highlighting that the prosecution had a prima facie case.

Minister Periyasamy, along with other accused family members, had contended that the prosecution wrongly calculated the total wealth and alleged that the case was politically motivated. The High Court, however, noted that these contentions could be examined during the trial, and cannot be grounds to prevent the trial from proceeding.

Further, the High Court found that the Special Judge erred in rendering his own findings at the stage of framing charges, instead of merely allowing the prosecution to present its case. This procedural lapse formed a significant basis for the High Court’s decision to set aside the discharge.

I. Periyasamy is the third Tamil Nadu Minister whose discharge in a disproportionate assets case has been set aside by the High Court. Previously, the same court had revoked the discharge orders of Ministers Durai Murugan and M.R.K. Panneerselvam, reflecting the judiciary’s firm stance on alleged corruption cases involving public officials.

The case, officially titled I. PERIASAMY vs. STATE REPRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, is registered under Diary No. 31484/2025. The Supreme Court’s stay of proceedings provides temporary relief to the Minister, suspending the trial until the apex court delivers its final verdict on the challenge to the High Court order.

The Supreme Court’s intervention underscores the importance of judicial scrutiny in high-profile corruption cases, especially those involving elected representatives. While the stay temporarily halts the proceedings, the trial and investigation are expected to resume once the Supreme Court decides the matter on merit.

The case also highlights the procedural nuances of framing charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, emphasizing that trial courts must carefully evaluate evidence without prejudging the case.

As the matter unfolds, it continues to attract political and public attention, given that allegations of disproportionate assets against senior politicians often become subjects of intense debate and scrutiny in India.