The First Judicial Magistrate Court in Puducherry has instructed Tamil Nadu Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson to personally appear on July 10 to receive an additional charge sheet related to an alleged assault on a woman amid a property dispute. The court’s directive came after the Minister did not attend the formal receipt of the supplementary charge sheet submitted by the Lawspet Police.
Representing the Minister, his counsel informed the court about Wilson’s inability to attend due to official duties as a Cabinet Minister in Tamil Nadu. Despite this, the Magistrate refused to excuse his absence and mandated his presence before the court “in person without fail” on July 10.
In addition to obtaining the supplementary charge sheet, the Minister has been tasked with receiving a pen drive presented by the complainant in court. This electronic device serves as evidence supporting the accusations against him and is part of the case records.
The incident dates back to 2022 when Careline Claude, the Minister’s brother’s wife, filed a complaint with the Lawspet Police, alleging that Wilson had forcibly entered her residence in Ezhil Nagar, Puducherry, and physically and verbally assaulted her during a family property dispute. Subsequently, the police initiated an investigation based on the complaint.
Following the complainant’s assertion that the police had not applied appropriate legal provisions, the court ordered further investigation and the submission of a revised charge sheet with more severe penal clauses if supported by the evidence. In compliance with the court’s directive, the Lawspet Police concluded the supplementary probe and presented the additional charge sheet to the Magistrate Court.
For the legal process to proceed, the accused must formally receive the supplementary charge sheet. The court has emphasized the Minister’s mandatory presence on July 10 for the handover of documents and to advance the trial proceedings.
