ED Attaches Rs 14 Crore in Ponmudy Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached assets worth ₹14.21 crore belonging to Tamil Nadu Minister K. Ponmudy, his son P. Gautham Sigamani, and their associates in connection with an illegal red earth quarrying case. The investigation, initiated based on a First Information Report filed by local police, revealed that between 2007 and 2010, while Ponmudy served as Minister for Mines, he allocated licenses for illegal mining operations that yielded proceeds of ₹25.7 crore, allegedly invested in overseas entities. The ED's probe also involved the seizure of cash and foreign currency during raids conducted in July 2023, with accusations of laundering funds through benami accounts and hawala transactions. Additionally, the ED has previously attached various properties linked to Ponmudy and Sigamani under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. This case adds to Ponmudy's legal troubles, as he faces scrutiny from the Madras High Court regarding a prior acquittal in a disproportionate assets case. The ongoing investigations highlight significant corruption concerns among Tamil Nadu officials.