T.N. government to appeal against Ponmudy’s acquittal in ₹28.37-crore red sand quarrying case, ED tells Madras HC
Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan direct the central agency to file its counter affidavit to his plea to quash PMLA proceedings
The Tamil Nadu government plans to 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. The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) recently informed the Madras High Court of the State government's decision to pursue an appeal against the acquittal, which occurred in April 2026.
ED Special Public Prosecutor P. Sidharthan stated that the government had written to the Central agency to express its intent to go on appeal. The acquitted individuals had filed writ petitions to quash the proceedings initiated by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. Ponmudy argued that the prosecution failed to establish a nexus between the grant of quarry leases and alleged illegal gains or conspiracy.
The trial court also deemed the charge of conspiracy and abuse of official position baseless, concluding that the revenue loss figures were speculative. The ED now seeks a quashing of the pending PMLA proceedings before a Chennai sessions court.
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