Tamil Nadu govt to challenge Ponmudy acquittal in sand quarrying case, ED tells court
The Enforcement Directorate has informed the Madras High Court that the Tamil Nadu government intends to file an appeal against the acquittal of former DMK Minister K. Ponmudy, his son Gowtham Sigamani, and five others in a ₹28.37-crore red sand quarrying case. ED Special Public Prosecutor P. Sidharthan told a bench comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan that the State government had communicated its decision to pursue the appeal against the acquittal.
The case originated when Villupuram District Crime Branch police registered an FIR against Ponmudy, his son, and others on September 23, 2012, under various IPC provisions and mining laws. The prosecution alleged that while serving as Minister for Mines and Minerals between 2007 and 2011, Ponmudy conspired to award red sand quarrying licences to his son, the latter's friend, and others. The charge claimed the licensees quarried red sand beyond permitted quantities without paying seignorage fees, causing ₹28.37 crore in losses to the State exchequer and corresponding wrongful gains. The Villupuram Principal District and Sessions Court acquitted all seven accused on April 2, 2026.
The High Court bench directed the ED to file a detailed counter affidavit within two weeks responding to petitions filed by the acquitted individuals seeking to quash PMLA proceedings initiated against them based on the red sand quarrying case.
