RK Nagar bypoll bribery case: EC directs FIR against E Palaniswami, TTV Dinakaran

The Election Commission of India (EC) on Sunday directed an FIR against Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, health minister C Vijayabaskar, AIADMK deputy general secretary TTV Dhinakaran and others in connection to the RK Nagar bypoll bribery case.

New Delhi, June 18: The Election Commission of India (EC) on Sunday directed an FIR against Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, health minister C Vijayabaskar, AIADMK deputy general secretary TTV Dhinakaran and others in connection to the RK Nagar bypoll bribery case.

Reportedly, an RTI query, demanding probe, was filed after a video went viral which showcased the alleged “distribution of money to voters” in RK Nagar ahead of bypolls on April 12.

Earlier, during a raid at the residence of AIADMK (Amma) faction leader Vijayabaskar, the Income Tax department officials had seized documents that proved that nearly Rs 90 crore was to distributed to voters in RK Nagar constituency. TTV Dhinakaran was fielded as the AIADMK (Amma) faction candidate in the by-election.

The incriminating documents, which were seized during the raids, also had proofs against seven senior AIADMK leader, including CM Palaniswami, of orchestrating the distribution of cash to voters in the poll-bound constituency.

Noteworthy, the EC had then, called off the bypoll, citing that the poll process had been “seriously vitiated”. It has said that RK Nagar bypoll will not be held on April 12 because of the unlawful activities of the candidates and political parties and their workers who bribed the electors.

Dinakaran was arrested on April 26 for allegedly bribing EC officials to get AIADMK’s two-leaves symbol for its faction. However, on June 5, almost 20 state ministers claimed of severeing ties with Dinakaran and his associates after Delhi’s Tis Hazari Court granted him bail.

Noteworthy, the by-elections in RK Nagar constituency became necessary after the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa in December 2016 as she was the representative from there for two terms.