Illegal Land Allotment case: SC stayed the trial against Tamil Nadu Minister I Periyasamy until the next date of hearing

Today (April 08, 2024), the Supreme Court (SC) of India was hearing an appeal against the order of the Madras High Court canceling a trial court order discharging Tamil Nadu Minister I Periyasamy from the case involving allegations of illegal land allotment. The bench comprising Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra stayed the trial against I Periyasamy until the next date of hearing. The SC order reads, “This Court is examining the merit of the same judgment…in the circumstances, we are of the view that the trial ordered by the Trial Court should not proceed while this court is considering the challenge by the accused. Accordingly, the proceedings is stayed until the next date of the hearing.” 

In this case, Tamil Nadu Minister Periyasamy was accused of being involved in the irregular allotment of certain land in a high-income group plot in Chennai. The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) framed the accusations. The same came when Periyasamy was serving as the Minister for Housing in the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) cabinet between 2008 and 2009. In 2023, a special court discharged the Tamil Nadu Minister from the irregular land allotment case whereas the same order was reversed by the High Court. The matter was therefore heard by the SC today and the bench stayed the trial against I Periyasamy until the next date of hearing.