M. Karunanidhi

Supreme Court Rejected Karunanidhi’s Claim That a Chief Minister Is Not a Public Servant

The Supreme Court’s ruling in the Karunanidhi corruption matter established a sweeping principle: a Chief Minister cannot escape scrutiny by arguing that the office is outside the definition of a public servant. The judgment arose from allegations tied to a 1976 wheat procurement probe in Tamil Nadu, where investigators said official power was misused to favour private firms. The case became a landmark in public accountability, reinforcing that constitutional office does not place a political executive beyond anti-corruption law when official position is allegedly abused for private gain.