The Madras High Court on Monday (August 17, 2026) confirmed the conviction and three-year rigorous imprisonment imposed by a trial court on former DMK Minister ‘Pulavar’ B.M. Senguttuvan’s (since dead) sons S. Panneerselvam (60) and S. Sakthivel (58), daughter R. Meenakshi (52), and niece P. Valli (49) in a 1996-2001 disproportionate assets case.

Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan dismissed a criminal appeal filed by the four convicts in 2023. They had challenged the judgment passed by the Tiruchirapalli Principal District and Sessions Court on October 4, 2023. Though the appeals were filed in the Madurai Bench of the High Court, they were transferred to the principal seat in Chennai since they were related to a former legislator.

Senguttuvan had served as Minister for the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments and Animal Husbandry Departments in former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s cabinet between 1996 and 2001. He had shifted camp and joined the AIADMK in 2013 before returning to the DMK in February 2021. He died at the age of 79 on July 2, 2021, and was survived by his wife, two sons, and daughter.

What is the case about?

In 1996, he had won from the Marungapuri constituency, which subsequently became part of Manapparai. In 2003, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) had registered a case against him, his two sons, the daughter, son-in-law C. Rajalingam (since dead), and his younger brother’s daughter in 2003 on charges of having amassed wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income between 1996 and 2001.

According to the prosecution, the former Minister was in possession of properties worth ₹3.63 lakh as on May 13, 1996, but had gone about acquiring lands, buildings, trucks, cars, two-wheelers, and so on in his name, as well as the names of his family members, during his stint as Minister. The total value of the properties at the end of the check period on May 14, 2001, was ₹1.01 crore.

Stating that the accused were able to show an income of ₹49.81 lakh, expenditure of ₹33.57 lakh, and savings of ₹16.24 lakh during the check period, the prosecuting agency charged them of not having been able to account for ₹81.42 lakh. Hence, a charge sheet was filed against all six accused under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and the Indian Penal Code.

The case against the former Minister and his son-in-law stood abated since they both died before the conclusion of the trial in 2023. Therefore, the trial court had gone ahead and convicted the rest of the four accused, who had filed the present joint criminal appeal before the Madurai Bench of the High Court in 2023.

Published - August 17, 2026 03:14 pm IST