Dr. K. Ponmudi
Cabinet Minister
Government of Tamil Nadu
In office
7 May 2021 – 19 December 2023
Minister Minister for Higher Education
Chief MinisterM. K. Stalin
Preceded byK. P. Anbalagan
Succeeded byRaja Kannappan
In office
13 May 2006 – 15 May 2011
Chief MinisterM. Karunanidhi
Preceded byC. V. Shanmugam
Succeeded byP. Palaniappan
In office
13 May 1996 – 13 May 2001
MinisterMinister for Transport & Highways
Chief MinisterM. Karunanidhi
Preceded byK. A. Sengottaiyan
Succeeded byNainar Nagendran
In office
27 January 1989 – 30 January 1991
MinisterMinister for Health
Chief MinisterM. Karunanidhi
Preceded byP. U. Shanmugam
Succeeded byS. Muthusamy
Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
In office
23 May 2016 – 19 December 2023
Preceded byL. Venkatesan
ConstituencyTirukkoyilur
In office
1996–2011
Preceded byD. Janardhanan
Succeeded byC. V. Shanmugam
ConstituencyVillupuram
In office
1989–1991
Preceded byM. Mani Rajarathinam
Succeeded byD. Janardhanan
ConstituencyVillupuram
Personal details
Born19 August 1950
T. Edaiyar, Tirukoilur Taluk, South Arcot district, Madras.
Political partyDravida Munnetra Kazhagam
SpouseVisalakshi[1]
ChildrenDr Gowtham Sigamani,Dr Ashok Sigamani[2]
ResidenceVillupuram

K. Ponmudi (born Deivasigamani K, 19 August 1950) is an Indian politician and the former Minister for Higher Education of Tamil Nadu,[3] who was disqualified in 2023 after the Madras High Court convicted him in the disproportionate assets case.[4][5] He was the Minister for Higher Education of Tamil Nadu from 2006 to 2011.[6] He was born in T. Edaiyar in the Villupuram district. He has a bachelor's degree in law, a master's degree in history, political science and public Administration and a doctorate in political science. He is an alumnus of Annamalai University.[7] Before entering professional politics, he was a professor in the Villupuram government college. He has been elected to the Tamil Nadu assembly five times. From 1989 to 1991 during Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam rule he was the Minister for Health, and from 1996 to 2001 he was the Minister for Transport and Highways.[8][9] He authored a book titled Dravidian Movement in India and Black Movement in the U.S.A.[10]

Conviction

On 19 December 2023, The Madras High Court Convicted him in Disproportionate assets case for amassing assets during his tenure as minister for Mines and Minerals in 2006–2011 DMK Government.[11][12] On 21 December 2023, He and his wife were sentenced to three years imprisonment as well as to a fine of ₹50 lakhs each by the Madras High Court. The court stayed the sentence imposed on them to appeal before the Supreme Court for 30 days. As a result, Ponmudi was disqualified as an MLA and minister as per Representation of the People Act, 1951.[13][14]

Electoral results

Elections Constituency Party Result Vote % Opposition
Candidate 		Opposition
Party 		Opposition
Vote %
1989 Villupuram DMK Won 47.18 ABDUL LATHEEF S INC 23.39[15]
1991 Lost 33.37 D. JANAARDHANAN ADMK 48.82[16]
1996 Won 58.24 PANNEERSELVAM, S.S. ADMK 25.90[17]
2001 Won 47.45 R.PASUPATHY PMK 45.86[18]
2006 Won 46.87 PASUPATHY.R ADMK 40.56[19]
2011 Lost 45.19 C. V. Shanmugam ADMK 52.18[20][21]
2016 Tirukkoyilur Won 49.80 GOTHANDARAMAN G ADMK 37.44[22]
2021 Won 56.56 VAT.KALIVARADHAN BJP 26.14[23]

References

  1. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 August 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2019.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "Political heirs on the horizon | Chennai News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  3. ^ "Council of Ministers | Tamil Nadu Government Portal". 7 August 2022. Archived from the original on 7 August 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Tamil Nadu minister K Ponmudy and wife sentenced to 3 years in jail in disproportionate assets case". The Indian Express. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  5. ^ Radhakrishnan, R. K. (21 December 2023). "DMK Minister Ponmudi sentenced in disproportionate assets case". Frontline. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Council of Ministers, Tamil Nadu, India". Archived from the original on 9 December 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  7. ^ "Welcome to Annamalai University". Archived from the original on 19 November 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  8. ^ "Tamil University, Thanjavur, Tamilnadu, India". Archived from the original on 7 January 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  9. ^ K. Ponmudy profile at TN government website
  10. ^ "::Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University::". Tnteu.in. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  11. ^ "Madras HC sets aside trial court order acquitting DMK Minister K Ponmudi in disproportionate assets case". newindianexpress. 19 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Madras HC Overturns Acquittal, Convicts DMK Minister K Ponmudi In Disproportionate Assets Case". abplive. 19 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Tamil Nadu minister K Ponmudy and wife sentenced to 3 years in jail in disproportionate assets case". The Indian Express. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  14. ^ "DMK Minister Ponmudi sentenced in disproportionate assets case". Frontline. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  15. ^ "STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1989 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF TAMIL NADU".
  16. ^ "STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1991 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF TAMIL NADU".
  17. ^ "STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1996 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF TAMIL NADU".
  18. ^ "STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 2001 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF TAMIL NADU".
  19. ^ "STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 2006 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF TAMIL NADU".
  20. ^ "STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 2011 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF TAMIL NADU".
  21. ^ Detailes Result 2011, Aseembly Election Tamil Nadu (PDF). Election Commission of Tamil Nadu (Report). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  22. ^ "Tamil Nadu General Legislative Election 2016, Election Commission of India".
  23. ^ "Election Commission of India". results.eci.gov.in. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
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