CHENNAI: In fresh trouble for AIADMK deputy general secretary TTV Dhinakaran, the Delhi police on Monday filed a First Information Report (FIR) against him for attempting to bribe Election Commission officials for getting a favourable order for his faction in the “Two Leaves” symbol case. A case was filed against Mr Dhinakaran under Section 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which deals with taking gratification, by corrupt or illegal means, to influence public servant and Section 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code after an alleged middleman, Sukesh Chandrasekhar, was picked up from a five-star hotel in New Delhi late on Sunday night.
“Sukesh, as per information, has promised TTV Dhinakaran of AIADMK’s Sasikala faction that he would influence Election Commission to obtain a favourable order for them in lieu of consideration of Rs 50 crore. Rs 1.30 crore in cash has been recovered from his possession,” Madhur Verma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), Delhi Police, told reporters in New Delhi. Sources in the Delhi Police said Mr Chandrasekhar, who had cheated several people to the tune of several crores of rupees in southern states, was picked up from Hyatt Hotel in South Delhi’s RK Puram area and two luxury cars – a BMW and a Mercedes Benz – were recovered from his possession.
This is fresh trouble for Mr Dhinakaran as he is already facing a banner of revolt within the AIADMK against his leadership. Twelve ministers of the Edappadi K Palanisami government have put Mr Dhinakaran and his aunt VK Sasikala on notice asking them to leave the party or face action within two days. Sources said that Chandrasekhar had, on the face of it, promised Mr Dhinakaran that he would get a favourable order from the EC for his faction in the Two Leaves symbol case. The EC had frozen the symbol on March 22 after rival factions staked claims to it and is likely to hear the case in the next few weeks.
Sources said there was evidence to show Mr Dhinakaran was in touch with Mr Chandrasekhar and investigators are looking into the phone call details of the arrested person to check whether he was in touch with any EC officials. “As of now, there is no evidence to establish that he was in touch with Election Commission officials,” a senior police officer said. The investigators are also looking at whether the arrested person was in touch with any Tamil Nadu Government official in New Delhi. They also said a team of investigators would fly to Chennai on Tuesday to issue summons to Mr Dhinakaran to join the probe.
