I have opened a can of worms: Justice Anand Venkatesh of Madras High Court looks into discharge of politicians in two more cases

The Madras High Court has taken up two more suo motu revision cases against the discharge of Tamil Nadu Minister I Periyasamy and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader B Valarmathi in two separate cases probed by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC)..Justice N Anand Venkatesh issued notice in the matter to the two politicians while observing that DVAC has become political and situation is hopeless. "The situation has become so hopeless. Case after case...it is like I have opened a can of worms. This is shocking. These are all facts. I am getting sick and tired...We have to have some sort of system. DVAC has become political. I am not trying to say anything against the officers. I don't know what type of pressure these officers have or the pressure the subordinate courts are under."Regardless of how hopeless the situation seemed, the problem has to be fixed, he added."I don't know how many more cases are to be reviewed. God save this institution and the State. Maybe something like the Lokayukta that Karnataka has, is needed here too," he said. .Justice Venkatesh had, last month, taken up a suo rotu revision case against the acquittal of Tamil Nadu Minister of Higher Education, K Ponmudi in a disproportionate wealth case. In the said matter, the judge had taken exception to the manner in which the trial against Ponmudi was transferred from one district court to another based on the administrative approval granted by three High Court judges, including then Chief Justice of the High Court..Justice Venkatesh has previously also initiated a suo motu revision case against the discharge of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Paneerselvam (OPS) and others in a disproportionate assets case. Similarly, he also took up a revision case against the discharge of Ministers KSSR Ramachandran and Thangam Thennarasu..After taking up two more revision cases, the judge noted,"Case after case I see that no legislator wants to face trial. They want to get out of it. I have opened a can of worms but someone has to do this. Anand Venkatesh is not the problem here. I am on this seat today, tomorrow I will be gone.".Pertinently, the development came shortly after the DVAC on Thursday asked Justice Venkatesh to recuse from hearing the revision petition against the acquittal of Ponmudi and his family members in the disproportionate assets case filed against them.Appearing for the DVAC, Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra said that Justice Venkatesh should not have passed his suo motu order without issuing notice to the High Court on the administrative side, and without first hearing all parties.Luthra argued that in his opinion, the judge did not have any suo motu revisional jurisdiction.