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Union minister Muthiah's petition in corruption case dismissed

A special judge trying corruption cases today dismissed the petition filed by Union Surface Transport Minister Sedapatti R Muthiah seeking a direction to issue summons to the secretary, Tamil Nadu legislative assembly and the Parliament secretary to produce records relating to the salary and allowances earned by him from 1977 to 1996.

Muthiah filed this petition when the case relating to the acquisition of wealth to the tune of Rs 4.57 million by him and his family members during his tenure as speaker of the state assembly in the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam regime, which was disproportionate to his known sources of income, came up for hearing.

Special judge-I, S Sambandam, allowed Muthiah's petition filed under Section 317 of CrPC, seeking to dispense with his appearance today. His family members were, however, present in the court.

Dismissing the other petition, the judge said the prosecution had filed a document showing Muthiah's salary and other particulars for the period from July 1991 to February 1995. The legislative assembly secretary had sent a letter in July 1996 to the director of Directorate of Vigilance and Corruption, giving the particulars.

As per the chargesheet, the family members of the minister, as on July 1991, possessed properties worth only Rs 84,017. Muthiah's salary as speaker had been taken into account and the amount had been mentioned as Rs 0.12 million. His salary and allowances when he was a member of Parliament was not at all required in this case as the period under review was from July 1991 to October 1994, the judge added.

UNI

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