Former TN speaker, sons get 25 months' RI for amassing wealth

Former TN speaker, sons get 25 months' RI for amassing wealth
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

CHENNAI, MARCH 8: In yet another conviction for corruption during the AIADMK regime in Tamil Nadu, a Special Court here on Wednesday sentenced former Assembly Speaker Sedapatti R Muthiah and his two sons to 25 months' of rigorous imprisonment for amassing wealth worth Rs 45.74 lakh while in office.

Muthiah, AIADMK treasurer and former Union minister, was found guilty of possessing the unexplained assets, while his sons were convicted for abetting the offence. All three were fined Rs 5,000 each, while Muthiah's wife Sakunthala was acquitted.

Special Judge S Sambandham suspended the sentence till April 10 to enable Muthiah and his sons to appeal to the High Court on their furnishing bonds for Rs 10,000 each.

Muthiah, who had to resign within a month of joining the Vajpayee Ministry in 1998 after charges were framed in this case, told mediapersons that he would appeal.

This is the fifth case which has ended in conviction since the present DMK regime set up three Special Courts in 1997 to try corruption offences that took place during 1991-96.

Former chief minister Jayalalitha and her colleague T M Selvaganapathy were convicted jointly in the Pleasant Stay Hotel case, while former minister Nagoor Meeran, former MLA G Malliga and IAS officer K Inbasagaran were sentenced to varying terms in wealth cases.

The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption had filed the chargesheet against Muthiah under Section 13(1)(E) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, while his wife, two sons - Arivazhagan and Manimaran, and daughter Malarvizhi, under Section 109 of IPC for abetting the offence.

The case against Malarvizhi was split up recently as she was not available for trial for some time. Therefore, Wednesday's judgement did not cover her role in the case.

Judge Sambandham said the prosecution had proved the case against Muthiah and his two sons beyond reasonable doubt, but acquitted Sakunthala for want of evidence.

A total of 45 prosecution witnesses and 54 defence witnesses were examined in the case. The witness examination and final arguments concluded on March 6.

Muthiah is probably the first Speaker in the country to be convicted for corruption. He had repeatedly questioned the applicability of the Prevention of Corruption Act to him, arguing that the Speaker was not a public servant, but the trial court and High Court have rejected the contention.

A last minute bid to stall the delivery of the verdict was made by his son Arivazhagan, who approached the Supreme Court on Tuesday, but the Apex Court refused to entertain it.

As the sentence exceeds two years, Muthiah may be disqualified from contesting elections for six years, unless a higher court reverses the conviction.