Supreme Court stays trial against TN Minister I Periyasamy in illegal land allotment case

The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the trial against Tamil Nadu Minister I Periyasamy in connection with a case involving allegations of illegal land allotment [I Periyasamy vs State Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption]..A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Prashant Kumar Mishra said that the trial would stay deferred till it decides on an appeal filed by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader in the matter. This appeal was filed against the Madras High Court's February 2024 decision to cancel a trial court order discharging Periyasamy from the case. .Periyasamy had been booked in the case in 2012, after the AIADMK came into power in Tamil Nadu. In this case, Periyasamy was accused by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) of being involved in the irregular allotment of certain land in a high-income group plot in Chennai to a Personal Security Officer, Ganesan, who worked for late DMK supremo M Karunanidhi.The said allotment allegedly took place when Periyasamy served as Housing Minister during the DMK regime in March 2008.A special court discharged Periyasamy from the irregular land allotment case in 2023. This order was reversed by the High Court earlier this year, on a suo motu revision case initiated against the now-Rural Development Minister in the DMK-led government in Tamil Nadu. .Madras High Court sets aside order to close case against TN Minister I Periyasamy in land allotment matter.At the time, Justice Anand Venkatesh stated that the special court's order constituted a "gross illegality." The High Court proceeded to direct Periyasamy to face the trial in the case.This led the Minister to file an appeal before the apex court, in which the top court issued notice to the Tamil Nadu DVAC on March 18.Today, Periyasamy's application seeking a deferment of the trial was listed, which had on March 28 been refused by the High Court.With the Supreme Court allowing this application today, the trial against Periyasamy now stands deferred until his appeal is decided on by the top court. .I have opened a can of worms: Justice Anand Venkatesh of Madras High Court looks into discharge of politicians in two more cases.Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.