FIR against Dinakaran for alleged bribe to EC for AIADMK's 2 leaves symbol

At least Rs 1.3 crore has been retrieved from Dinakaran, alleged bribe amount said to be Rs 50 crore

Inviting more trouble for Tamil Nadu’s All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the Delhi police on Monday filed a First Information Report (FIR) against party general secretary TTV Dinakaran for allegedly bribing the Election Commission for the two leaves symbol for his party. 

At least Rs 1.3 crore has been retrieved from Dinakaran, which police say he was planning to use for the bribery, reported The Times of India. Officials added that the total bribe amount was Rs 50 crore.

Filed under Section 8 of the Prevention of the Corruption Act, Dinakaran is accused of offering gratification by illegal means to influence public officials. He has also been charged under Section 120 B, pertaining to criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The Election Commission on 23 March, 2017 decided to freeze election symbol of 'two leaves', after representatives of former Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam and former party general secretary Sasikala factions made their claims for it.

"Neither of the two groups shall be permitted to use the symbol 'Two Leaves' of the AIADMK," the Election Commission stated.

The poll panel also asked both the factions to choose a new symbol to contest the by-polls in R K Nagar. The ECT also allowed both factions a further and final opportunity of adducing documents and affidavits latest by April 17.

Earlier on 21 March,2017 Sasikala-led faction filed a petition staking claim to the party's symbol. Panneerselvam-led group had also claimed that the party symbol rightfully belonged to it as Sasikala's election as the AIADMK general secretary was 'invalid and illegal'.

The tussle over party symbol began in view of the by-elections to the R K Nagar assembly constituency in Chennai on April 12. The constituency was held by late chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

Earlier, Egmore magistrate court headed by Judge Malarmathi ordered the Dinakaran to appear for questions in connection with the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) case against him on April 18 and 19.

The Madras High Court refused to defer Dinakaran's trial in a money laundering-cum-foreign exchange violation case till April 12.