CHENNAI: A special court in Chennai acquitted State Health Minister Ma Subramanian and six others in the more than 20-year-old case in connection to the assault of Chennai corporation council members during the council meeting.

On Friday, the special court constituted to hear cases related to MPs/MLAs, acquitted all the accused including the health minister citing the prosecution failed to establish the case beyond doubt as the witnesses turned hostile.

In 2002, the then deputy mayor Karate R Thiagarajan of the Chennai Corporation convened a council meeting. Ma Subramanian took part in the council meeting as a council member.

During the meeting, Subramanian and some other DMK members raised concerns regarding the tender floated for a fish market at Kannappar Thidal. Following this, chaos ensued between DMK and AIADMK council members, which eventually turned into a physical altercation. The council members threw chairs and mics against each other leaving several council members injured.

Based on the complaint lodged by AIADMK council members, Periamet police registered a case against Ma Subramanian, Tamizhvendhan, Nedumaran, VS Babu, Sivaji Krishnamoorthy and other DMK members.

The charges were booked under sections 147, 324, and 341 of IPC and section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Public Property (Prevention of Damage & Loss) Act, 1992.

After conducting the investigation, the police filed a charge sheet against the health minister in 2020.

In March 2020, the special court took cognizance of the case and heard all the parties. After hearing the case at full length, the special court acquitted all the accused persons.