Chennai, Aug 29:
The Madras High Court on Friday dismissed as withdrawn a petition filed by Tamil Nadu Finance Minister N Marie Wilson seeking to quash an assault case pending against him in Puducherry, after the court came down heavily on him for repeatedly seeking exemption from personal appearance.
During the morning hearing, Justice V Lakshminarayanan questioned Wilson’s repeated requests for exemption and observed that the Minister was “not the King of England” to decide that he would not appear before the court.
When Wilson’s counsel cited the ongoing Assembly session as the reason for seeking exemption, the judge pointed out that even former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao had appeared before a court while holding office.
The judge also questioned why Wilson could not appear before the Puducherry court while travelling to or from a scheduled flag-hoisting ceremony at Velankanni.
The court stressed that holding ministerial office did not place an individual above the law.
The case relates to an incident registered by Lawspet police in Puducherry in August 2022. The complaint was filed by Wilson’s brother Marie Calude and his wife Caroline Calude, alleging that Wilson and others forcibly entered their residence and assaulted them during a family property dispute.
The allegations included house trespass, causing damage, voluntarily causing hurt using a weapon, assaulting a woman with intent to outrage her modesty, criminal intimidation and use of obscene words.
The case subsequently underwent further investigation after the complainants challenged the original FIR and produced video footage. The Mahila Court directed the police to conduct further investigation and file a fresh report.
The matter was later transferred to the Puducherry First Judicial Magistrate Court after Wilson contested the Tamil Nadu Assembly election and was elected from RK Nagar before being appointed Finance Minister.
A fresh chargesheet containing additional provisions was filed, following which the Puducherry court directed Wilson to appear personally to receive copies.
Wilson subsequently approached the High Court seeking to quash the proceedings and exemption from personal appearance.
At an earlier stage, the High Court had referred the family dispute to its Mediation Centre after Wilson’s counsel expressed willingness to resolve the matter amicably.
Three rounds of mediation have reportedly been held, but no settlement has been reached so far. The mediation process is expected to continue.
When the matter returned to the High Court on Friday afternoon, Wilson’s counsel informed the court that the Minister would appear before the Puducherry court after August 31 and sought permission to withdraw the quashing petition.
Accepting the submission, the High Court dismissed the petition as withdrawn.
The development means Wilson will now have to appear before the Puducherry court in connection with the criminal proceedings.