Madras High Court dismisses cases filed by Minister I. Periyasamy, family against ED proceedings

The Madras High Court on Monday (January 5, 2026) dismissed a batch of writ petitions filed by Tamil Nadu Rural Development Minister I. Periyasamy and his family members challenging the action initiated against them by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in a money laundering case.

First Division Bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan passed the orders after ED Special Public Prosecutor P. Sidharthan said, the petitioners had filed the cases without approaching the adjudicating authority under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act of 2002.

Mr. Periyasamy, his son I.P. Senthilkumar, and daughter P. Indira had filed the petitions challenging the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) booked under the PMLA, on the basis of a disproportionate assets case registered against the Minister by the State police, and all consequential actions initiated by the ED.

It was brought to the notice of the High Court that 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 had approached the High Court with the present writ petitions for quashing the ECIR and the consequent proceedings.