SC allows plea against former minister in assets case

The Supreme Court on Saturday allowed an appeal by the Tamil Nadu government against discharge of DMK leader K N Nehru and his wife Shanta in a disproportionate assets case.

The former transport minister in the Tamil Nadu cabinet  had reportedly acquired assets to the tune of Rs 18.52 crore, disproportionate to his known sources of income. His wife and son Arun were also named in the case.

A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Amitava Roy held the Madras High Court’s order discharging the couple as “visibly premature” and “unsustainable in law”.

The apex court, however, upheld the high court as well as the trial court’s orders for further investigation against their son Arun in the case.

In September 2011, an FIR was lodged by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Trichy, alleging that Nehru, while serving as minister between May 2006 and March 2011, had acquired assets in his name and that of his wife and son far beyond their known sources of income. During the period, their assets swelled from Rs 2.83 crore to Rs 18.52 crore.

On a plea made by Nehru that the investigating agency also computed properties of Arun in the case, the trial court ordered further probe into the matter.

However, on a plea by the police for framing of charges, the high court let off the couple, but upheld the trial court’s order for further probe against Arun.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the state, submitted that the high court ought not to have discharged Nehru and his wife as their innocence was not borne out by the records.

“The material was patently predetermined and is  likely to adversely affect the further investigation as ordered by the trial Court and affirmed by high court,” he said.