Madras High Court refuses interim relief to Minister I. Periyasamy in money laundering case

The Madras High Court on Wednesday (December 17, 2025) refused to grant any kind of interim relief to Rural Development Minister I. Periyasamy and his family members in a money laundering case without ordering notice to the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) and granting time to the latter to file its response.

First Division Bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan permitted ED Special Public Prosecutor R. Sidharthan to take notice and file a response by January 5 to all the petitions filed by Mr. Periyasamy, his son I.P. Senthilkumar, and daughter P. Indira.

The petitioners had challenged the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) registered by the ED for alleged offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act of 2002, on the basis of a disproportionate assets case registered against the Minister by the State police, and all consequential actions.

It was brought to the notice of the High Court that the a special court for Prevention of Corruption Act cases had discharged the Minister from the predicate offence booked by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption but the High Court had reversed the discharge in 2025.

Thereafter, the Minister had challenged the High Court’s order before the Supreme Court and obtained an interim stay in his favour. Hence, he and his family members has now approached the High Court with the present writ petitions for quashing the ECIR and the consequent proceedings.