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Charges to be framed against ex-minister in corruption case

A special judge trying corruption cases during the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam regime, today dismissed the petitions filed by former commercial taxes minister V Sathiamoorthy and six of his family members, seeking to discharge them in the disproportionate wealth case.

The prosecution's case was that Sathiamoorthy had amassed assets worth Rs 8.332 million in his name and in the name of his relatives between January 1992 and May 1996, which was disproportionate to his known sources of income during the previous AIADMK regime.

Special judge-II V Radhakrishnan said it was proved during investigations that the movable and immovable properties standing in the name of his relatives, who were only benamis, were enjoyed by Sathiamoorthy. With such materials on record, it could not be said that the charges levelled against the accused were groundless, he added.

He said the investigating officer's report stated that prior to the period under review, the value of the properties owned by Sathiamoorthy was only Rs 165,000 and they had not yielded any substantial income. His wife also had only a meagre income.

Sathiamoorthy could not satisfactorily render accounts for the pecuniary resources and this was a fit case for framing of charges against the accused under the Indian Penal code and Prevention of Corruption Act.

The judge has posted the hearing of the case to April 7 for framing of charges against Sathiamoorthy and his relatives.

UNI

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