The Madras High Court has upheld the special court’s order convicting former minister R. Indira Kumari (now deceased) and her husband, Babu, in a graft case involving the illegal transfer of government funds into two private trusts. While Justice G. Jayachandran abated the charges against Indira Kumari due to her passing earlier this year, the court confirmed the conviction of the other accused, including her husband.The case dates back to February 4, 2004, when the CB-CID filed a charge sheet against Indira Kumari and four others, including former Social Welfare Secretary R. Kirubakaran, Shanmugam, Babu, and Venkatakrishnan. The charge sheet alleged that Indira Kumari, during her tenure as the Social Welfare Minister in J. Jayalalithaa’s cabinet from 1992 to 1996, committed a criminal breach of trust by transferring Rs. 15.45 lakhs from departmental funds to two private trusts operated by her husband in Vellore and Chennai. These trusts were purportedly established as schools for children with disabilities.
The investigation agency accused Indira Kumari of abusing her official position as a public servant to gain pecuniary advantage through illegal means. The case was subsequently transferred to the Additional Special Court for the trial of cases related to MPs and MLAs. In 2019, this court convicted Indira Kumari and her husband, sentencing them to five years of rigorous imprisonment.
The High Court’s decision to uphold the conviction reinforces the judicial system’s commitment to holding public officials accountable for corruption and misuse of power. The ruling also highlights the continued legal scrutiny faced by individuals involved in cases of financial misconduct, even years after the alleged crimes were committed.