K. Ponmudi (born Deivasigamani K, 19 August 1950) is an Indian politician and the Former Minister for Forests of Tamil Nadu,[3] who was disqualified in 2023 after the Madras High Court convicted him in the disproportionate assets case.[4][5] He was the Minister for Higher Education of Tamil Nadu from 2006 to 2011.[6] He was born in T. Edaiyar in the Villupuram district. He has a bachelor's degree in law, a master's degree in history, political science and public administration and a doctorate in political science. He is an alumnus of Annamalai University.[7] Before entering professional politics, he was a professor in the Villupuram government college. He has been elected to the Tamil Nadu assembly five times. From 1989 to 1991 during Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam rule he was the Minister for Health, and from 1996 to 2001 he was the Minister for Transport and Highways.[8][9] He authored a book titled Dravidian Movement in India and Black Movement in the U.S.A.[10] On April 24, 2025, the Madras High Court decided to initiate suo motu proceedings against K. Ponmudy for his vulgar remarks against Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and women, which it deemed prima facie hate speech.[11]
On 19 December 2023, The Madras High Court convicted him in disproportionate assets case for amassing assets during his tenure as minister for Mines and Minerals in 2006–2011 DMK Government.[12][13] On 21 December 2023, he and his wife were sentenced to three years imprisonment as well as to a fine of ₹50 lakhs each by the Madras High Court. The court stayed the sentence imposed on them to appeal before the Supreme Court for 30 days. As a result, Ponmudi was disqualified as an MLA and minister as per Representation of the People Act, 1951.[14][15]
| Elections | Constituency | Party | Result | Vote % | Opposition Candidate |
Opposition Party |
Opposition Vote % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Villupuram | DMK | Won | 47.18 | ABDUL LATHEEF S | INC | 23.39[16] |
| 1991 | Lost | 33.37 | D. JANAARDHANAN | ADMK | 48.82[17] | ||
| 1996 | Won | 58.24 | PANNEERSELVAM, S.S. | ADMK | 25.90[18] | ||
| 2001 | Won | 47.45 | R.PASUPATHY | PMK | 45.86[19] | ||
| 2006 | Won | 46.87 | PASUPATHY.R | ADMK | 40.56[20] | ||
| 2011 | Lost | 45.19 | C. V. Shanmugam | ADMK | 52.18[21][22] | ||
| 2016 | Tirukkoyilur | Won | 49.80 | GOTHANDARAMAN G | ADMK | 37.44[23] | |
| 2021 | Won | 56.56 | VAT.KALIVARADHAN | BJP | 26.14[24] |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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