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The Hindu
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Two Tamil Nadu Ministers quit on strong court remarks
Tamil Nadu Forest Minister K. Ponmudy and Electricity, Prohibition and Excise Minister V. Senthilbalaji resigned on Sunday (April 27, 2025) night after courts made strong remarks against them. This is the second time Mr. Senthilbalaji stepped down as a Minister, as the Supreme Court made it clear that he had to make a choice between his ministerial post and freedom. He continued as a Minister without portfolio after his arrest in June 2023 by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case, but resigned from the Cabinet on February 12, 2024. He was reinstated after the Supreme Court granted him bail in the case on September 26, 2024. A Supreme Court Bench took objection to Mr. Senthilbalaji's induction into the Cabinet, and Justices A.S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan on April 23 said that his continuation as a Minister placed him in a position of influence with regard to witnesses, and he could derail the trial. Justice Oka remarked that the Bench would even record in its order that it had been a 'mistake' to grant him bail and observed that he had been given bail not on the merits of the case but because the court stood up for the fundamental right to personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. For Mr. Ponmudy, the Madras High Court directed its Registry to take up a suo motu writ petition for a derogatory speech by him against Saivites, Vaishnavites and women in general. Justice N. Anand Venkatesh issued the direction after observing that the Minister had prima facie misused the liberty granted to him by the Supreme Court which had stayed his conviction as well as sentence in a corruption case. Following this, the first Bench of the Madras High Court granted time till June 5 for the Tamil Nadu government as well as Mr. Ponmudy, in his individual capacity, to respond to a public interest litigation petition filed by an advocate to disqualify the Minister from holding any constitutional post due to his recent derogatory speech. A Raj Bhavan release said Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has recommended Governor R.N. Ravi to accept their resignation. The Chief Minister also recommended the induction of former Minister Mano Thangaraj into the Cabinet. The swearing-in will be held on April 28. The Hindu's Editorials The Hindu's Daily Quiz Rana Sangha was the king of which Rajput clan? Bhati Mewar Kachwaha Rathore To know the answer and to play the full quiz, click here.
India Today
27-04-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Senthil Balaji quits as Tamil Nadu Minister days after Supreme Court ultimatum
Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK leader V Senthil Balaji resigned from the MK Stalin Cabinet on Sunday, days after the Supreme Court issued an ultimatum in connection with a money laundering case. The top court had asked Balaji to choose between his "post and freedom," warning that his bail could be cancelled if he did not step down as minister, K Ponmudy, also resigned amid backlash over his controversial remarks linking Shaivism and Vaishnavism to a sex worker. His resignation came days after the Madras High Court initiated suo motu proceedings in the who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in June 2023 in connection with a money laundering case linked to a cash-for-jobs scam, was granted bail by the Supreme Court in September last year. Although he had resigned from the Cabinet while in jail, Balaji was reinstated after securing bail. The Supreme Court found his reinstatement troubling, citing the serious nature of the charges against him. Earlier this month, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and AG Masih warned Balaji to choose between his ministerial post and his liberty, giving him time until Monday to decide. The court was hearing applications seeking to recall the bail granted to Balaji, citing allegations that he was influencing Ponmudy is facing legal action over a controversial speech allegedly targeting Saivites, Vaishnavites, and women. Last week, the Madras High Court registered a suo motu case against the DMK leader, observing that the speech 'prima facie appeared to be hate speech'.advertisementThe DMK had removed Ponmudy from a key party post, with opposition parties and other groups demanding his removal from the Minister SS Sivasankar will now handle the electricity portfolio, previously held by Senthil Balaji. Housing Minister S Muthusamy has been assigned the Excise and Prohibition portfolio, also previously held by to the government, RS Rajakannappan will take on Ponmudy's responsibilities for Forests and Khadi, in addition to his existing Milk and Dairy Development Watch IN THIS STORY#Tamil Nadu
The Hindu
27-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Senthilbalaji, Ponmudy resign as Tamil Nadu Ministers after strong remarks from courts
Tamil Nadu Forest Minister K. Ponmudy and Electricity, Prohibition and Excise Minister V. Senthilbalaji resigned on Sunday (April 27, 2025) night. A Raj Bhavan release said Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has recommended Governor R.N. Ravi to accept their resignation. The Chief Minister also recommended the induction of former Minister Mano Thangaraj into the Cabinet. The swearing-in will be held on April 28 at the Raj Bhavan. Also Read | Supreme Court takes stern view of reinstating Senthilbalaji as Tamil Nadu Cabinet Minister In the wake of their resignations, Mr. Ponmudy's department has been allotted to Milk and Dairy Development Minister R.S. Rajakannappan. Transport Minister S.S. Sivasankar will hold the portfolio of Electricity, while Housing and Urban Development Minister S. Muthusamy will hold Prohibition and Excise departments held by Mr. Senthilbalaji. The continuation of Mr. Ponmudy and Mr. Senthibalaji became untenable after courts made strong remarks against them. In the case of Mr. Senthilbalaji, the Supreme Court made it clear that he had to make a choice between his Minister post and freedom. This is the second time he is stepping down as a Minister. Though he continued as a Minister without portfolio after his arrest in June 2023 by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case, he resigned from the Cabinet on February 12, 2024. He was reinstated after the Supreme Court granted him bail in the case on September 26, 2024. But a Supreme Court Bench took objection to his induction into the Cabinet and Justices A.S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan on April 23 said Mr. Senthilbalaji's continuation as a Minister placed him in a position of influence with regard to witnesses, and he could derail the trial. Justice Oka remarked that the Bench would even record in its order that it had been a 'mistake' to grant him bail and observed that he had been given bail not on the merits of the case but because the court stood up for the fundamental right to personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. Derogatory speech Mr. Ponmudy ran into trouble after the Madras High Court directed its Registry to take up a suo motu writ petition with respect to a derogatory speech by him against Saivites, Vaishnavites and women in general. Justice N. Anand Venkatesh issued the direction after observing that the Minister had prima facie misused the liberty granted to him by the Supreme Court which had stayed his conviction as well as sentence in a corruption case. Subsequently, the first Bench of the Madras High Court granted time till June 5 for the Tamil Nadu government as well as Mr. Ponmudy, in his individual capacity, to respond to a public interest litigation petition filed by an advocate to disqualify the Minister from holding any constitutional post due to his recent derogatory speech. Chief Justice K.R. Shriram and Justice Mohammed Shaffiq directed State Government Pleader to take notice on behalf of the Home Secretary and ordered notice to Mr. Ponmudy too seeking their response to the case by June 5. The judges directed the High Court Registry to list the matter again on June 19 for further hearing.
The Hindu
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
SC tells Senthilbalaji to choose between ministership and freedom
1. Supreme Court tells Senthilbalaji to choose between ministership and freedom The Supreme Court took stern exception to the continuance of Tamil Nadu Minister for Electricity, Prohibition and Excise V. Senthilbalaji in office while out on bail in money laundering proceedings linked to a cash-for-jobs 'scam', saying 'you have to make a choice between the post and your freedom'. 2. Madras HC to take up suo motu writ against Minister Ponmudy's speech The Madras High Court directed its Registry to take up a suo motu writ petition with respect to a derogatory speech delivered by Tamil Nadu Forest Minister K. Ponmudy against Saivites, Vaishnavites and women in general. 3. Madras HC reverses discharge of Minister Duraimurugan in 2002 disproportionate assets case The Madras High Court reversed the discharge order passed by a special court in Vellore in 2007 in a disproportionate assets case booked by the DVAC in 2002 for having allegedly amassed the wealth between 1996 and 2001 when he had served as Minister for Public Works Department (PWD) in former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's Cabinet. 4. TASMAC versus ED case: Madras HC dismisses pleas against search The Madras High Court dismissed writ petitions filed by the Tamil Nadu government and Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) to declare as illegal a search and seizure operation carried out by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) at the corporation's headquarters in Chennai between March 6 and 8. 5. State government approves Chennai Metro Rail's Airport-Kilambakkam project After years of wait, the Tamil Nadu government has approved Chennai Metro Rail's Airport-Kilambakkam project and has forwarded the detailed project report (DPR) to the Centre. To be built at an estimated cost of ₹9,335 crore, the Airport-Kilambakkam corridor is expected to significantly improve the commute for those residing in the city's southern areas such as Chromepet, Pallavaram, Tambaram and Perungalathur.
The Hindu
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Madras High Court orders notice on plea to disqualify T.N. Minister Ponmudy
The Madras High Court on Thursday (April 24, 2025) granted time till June 5 for Tamil Nadu government as well as Forest Minister K. Ponmudy, in his individual capacity, to respond to a public interest litigation petition filed by an advocate to disqualify the Minister from holding any constitutional post due to his recent derogatory speech against Saivites, Vaishnavites and women in general. First Division Bench of Chief Justice K.R. Shriram and Justice Mohammed Shaffiq directed State Government Pleader Edwin Prabakar to take notice on behalf of the Home Secretary and ordered notice to Mr. Ponmudy too seeking their response to the case by June 5. The judges directed the High Court Registry to list the matter again on June 19 for further hearing. During the course of arguments on Thursday, Advocate General P.S. Raman pointed out that the PIL petitioner B. Jagannath had made some highly objectionable statements against Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in an additional affidavit filed by him in support of his case. Immediately, the petitioner agreed to redact those statements, and the judges recorded his statement.
