CHENNAI: The George Town court has sentenced MDMK legislator Dr T Sadhan Thirumalaikumar to two years' imprisonment in a cheque bounce case.

However, his sentence remains suspended for two months during which he can file and appeal.

Thirumalaikumar, who represents the Vasudevanallur constituency in Tenkasi district, reportedly took a loan of Rs 1 crore in 2016 from New Link Overseas Finance Company, located in Royapettah, for developing his business.

Later, to repay the loan, he issued two cheques worth Rs 50 lakh each, but when the cheques were deposited in the bank, they returned due to insufficient funds in his account.

Following this, in 2019, the director of New Link Overseas Finance Company filed a cheque dishonour case against Thirumalaikumar before the Egmore Court.

Since he is an elected representative, the case was later transferred to the special court for cases involving MPs and MLAs, and subsequently, as per the order of the special court, the case was transferred to the George Town Court in Chennai.

Hearing the case, George Town Court Judge C Sundarapandian held that the charges against Thirumalaikumar in the cheque dishonour case had been proven beyond reasonable doubt.

The judge sentenced him to two years of imprisonment and ordered him to pay Rs 1 crore within two months, failing which he must undergo an additional three months of imprisonment.

The court also granted two months' time to file an appeal and suspended the sentence until then.