Chennai: The shuffling of candidates which can be done until the last day for withdrawal of nominations to the state Assembly election, was put to cunning use by a couple from Villupuram, who were arrested by the city police on Tuesday.
Police said the suspect was working as an aide to Mailam AIADMK MLA K.P. Nagarajan and got acquainted with Kavundampalayam MLA V.C. Arukutty during the time the legislators were camping in the MLA Hostel here.
Having established a good rapport with Arukutty, the suspect - Paalvannnan, resident of Peramandur near Tindivanam in Villupuram district - had better access to the former. He informed Arukutty that a candidate shuffle was on the cards and that the legislator, who had been given party ticket for reelection, figured in the reshuffle list.
Paalvannan who claimed that he enjoys a clout in the party offered to retain the candidature for a price of Rs 3 lakhs. Arukutty who is a staunch follower of AIADMK founder MGR and the party supremo J Jayalalithaa, contacted the party headquarters in this regard.
He learnt that Paalvannan was trying to hoodwink him. Subsequently, he preferred a complaint with Teynampet police who laid a trap. Paalvannan and his wife Sumathi were arrested when they came to collect their 'fee' for retention of the candidate at a hotel in Teynampet. Further investigations are on.
