CHENNAI: The Opposition DMK leader M K Stalin on Wednesday demanded that the case related to alleged electoral malpractices committed in the run-up to the by-election to R K Nagar constituency in the city in April 2017 should be transferred to CBI.
In a statement here, Mr. Stalin condemned the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu for having informed the Madras High Court on Tuesday that it would not go on appeal against the order of a single Judge quashing the FIR related to the alleged cash-for-votes allegedly indulged by the ruling party during the RK Nagar by-poll, after the demise of former Chief Minister, J Jayalalithaa, which allegedly involved cash to the extent of Rs. 89.50 crore meant to be given to voters.
Referring to the then district election officer, Mr. Karthikeyan IAS, having reportedly given his opinion that it was not a “fit case” for the State to go on appeal, Mr. Stalin said it was a matter of 'serious concern' as the Election Commission of India (ECI) during an election had powers to take action based on the report of Income Tax department's search operations.
In this instance, a “list (of number of voter-beneficiaries and related details)” was seized from the state minister C. Vijayabhaskar's house by an I-T team, he said. The EC had subsequently written to the city police commissioner in April 2017 to register an FIR, but it was put in cold storage, charged Stalin. A case was subsequently registered under a directive by the Madras High court, he said.
However, a person unconnected with the case moved the High Court to get the FIR quashed due to the prodding by the AIADMK government, alleged Stalin.
Taking note of all these developments, the EC itself should now urge the High court to transfer the case for CBI investigation, the DMK leader added.
