From Power to Prison: A Look at Former State Ministers Who Ended Up on Wrong Side of the Law

With the Madras High Court ordering three years of imprisonment to Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy and his wife P Visalakshi in connection to a Rs 1.75 crore disproportionate assets case, it is important to note that several state ministers in the recent few years have come under the scanner of investigation agencies for their alleged involvement in corruption cases.

Delhi’s former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, along with ex-minister Satyendra Jain, is also serving jail sentence on corruption charges. However, both of them have not been sentenced yet. Apart from this, Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji, West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee and Jyoti Priya Mallick are also logged in jail.

Tamil Nadu Minister K Ponmudi

The Madras High Court on Thursday sentenced Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister and DMK leader K Ponmudi and his wife to three years each in the disproportionate assets case. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50 Lakh on both the accused. The sentence came after the High Court overturned the Lower Court’s decision which acquitted him.

Following his conviction and three-year sentence, Ponmudi stands disqualified from the post of MLA and is set to lose the post of Higher Education Minister in the Tamil Nadu government.

Former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia

Manish Sisodia, AAP leader and former deputy of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, is in currently logged in jail in the Delhi Liquor Policy Scam case. He is in jail since he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate. Notably, he has filed bail petitions several times, which have been rejected.

Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain

Another AAP leader and Former Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain is currently in jail after he came under the radar of the investigation agencies in connection to a money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam.

West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee

Partha Chatterjee, a minister in the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led government, was arrested by ED in the month of July in 2022 in connection to the teacher recruitment scam case in West Bengal. Presently he is in judicial custody of Presidency Central Correctional Home in South Kolkata.

Apart from these ministers, other ministers who are currently logged in jail in connection to various cases are: Former Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik, West Bengal Minister Jyoti Priya Mallik and TMC leader Anubrata Mondal, among others.