How Supreme Court crushed Karunanidhi’s argument that a Chief Minister is not a public servant

M. Karunanidhi | Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives Four months after the M. Karunanidhi Government was dismissed during the Emergency, the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary on June 15, 1976, requested the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to make a detailed investigation into alleged corruption in the procurement of wheat from Punjab. The Chief Secretary said Karunanidhi and others were alleged to have abused their official position and derived pecuniary advantage to the extent of ₹4 to ₹5 lakh for passing favourable orders in respect of some firms.Following the Governor’s sanction, a charge sheet was filed for the prosecution of the former Chief Minister under provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA). Karunanidhi’s petition to be discharged from the case was dismissed by the Special Court and the same was upheld by the Madras High Court. Published - November 04, 2026 06:00 am IST