Ex-AIADMK minister acquitted of graft charges

CHENNAI: It was former AIADMK minister and the party's presidium chairman, E Madhusudhanan's turn to be acquitted in a corruption case on Monday.
The Madras High Court acquitted the erstwhile cabinet colleague of former chief minister Jayalalithaa, saying: "It is held that the charges of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal misconduct by abusing his official position against Madhusudhanan are not proved by the prosecution."
The matter relates to the government's decision to distribute free dhotis and sarees to people during Pongal in 1992.It allotted a sum of Rs 12.58 crore for the purpose. According to the CB-CID, the materials supplied by the contractors were of inferior quality and did not meet the specifications in width and length.
Also, work orders had been issued to unregistered firms which were not paying tax, it said. The agency said Madhusudhanan abused his official position as minister for transmitting the object of criminal conspiracy. A special court had found the former minister guilty and awarded him rigorous imprisonment for two years besides fine. It also convicted five others for a period ranging from one year to four years.
Allowing the appeals, justice M Jeyapaul said: "It is found that there is no direct evidence let in by the prosecution to establish that the accused conspired together and committed the offence." As far as Madhusudhanan is concerned, there is virtually no evidence to show that he was in any way involved in selecting the suppliers, the judge said, adding that selection was done by a committee constituted for that purpose.
The work order was placed to suppliers who quoted the lowest price, justice Jeyapaul said, adding, "therefore, as far as the selection of suppliers is concerned, there is death of evidence to prove that Madhusudhanan played a pivotal role. The very selection of tenderers, the terms of agreement and advances proposed to be released were approved by the chief minister, and the accused had played no role in the matter."
The prosecution failed to establish that the accused violated any procedure, norms or government instructions and they committed the criminal breach of trust, resulting in loss to the Tamil Nadu Textile Corporation, justice Jayapaul said, acquitting all the accused persons of all charges.