K Ponmudy need not surrender yet since his jail term has been suspended for 30 days. (File)
Tamil Nadu minister K Ponmudy was on Thursday awarded three years in jail in a corruption case. The Madras High Court had set aside a trial court order two days ago to convict the DMK leader and his wife in a Rs 1.75-crore disproportionate assets case.
But he need not surrender yet since his jail term has been suspended for 30 days to allow him to appeal his conviction in the Supreme Court.
Mr Ponmudy ceases to be an MLA, and therefore a minister, after his conviction. His higher education portfolio has been handed over to Backward Classes Welfare Minister RS Rajakannappan. Under the law, members of the legislatures are disqualified from either the parliament or the assembly if they are convicted by a court.
Justice G Jayachandran pointed to overwhelming evidence against him while setting aside the unsustainable reasons given by the trial court for his acquittal. The judge called the trial court's judgment palpably wrong, which made it a fit case for the appellate court' interference.
His sentencing came a day after Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi demanded that Chief Minister MK Stalin drop him from his cabinet, according to sources.
The case dates back to the DMK's 2006-2011 regime when the convicted leader had accumulated over Rs 1.36 crore in assets. It was brought to the court by the rival AIADMK, which came to power in 2011.
The case has led to another flashpoint between the Tamil Nadu government and the Governor in recent days. The two sides are locked in conflict in the Supreme Court after the ruling DMK accused Mr Ravi of deliberately delaying clearing bills passed by the state Assembly.