AIADMK symbol: Chandrashekhar's police custody extended

Hours after All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader T.T.V. Dinakaran accepted that he met Sukesh Chandrashekhar in his bribery dealing with the Election Commission of India (ECI), a Delhi Court on Tuesday extended the alleged middleman's police custody till April 28.

Dinakaran initially refused to have known Sukesh. He later accepted meeting him when Sukesh himself gave the details of his meeting with the former.

Dinakaran, who is accused of trying to bribe an Election Commission official in a bid to retain the 'two leaves' symbol of the AIADMK, however, maintained that he did not pay any money to Sukesh.

The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police now has to establish the possible reasons for which the two might have met. For this, they have sought of the help of the Election Commission official who helped him in dealing with the poll watchdog.

Searches are also being conducted at Sukesh's Kochi residence to trace the amount paid to him.

Details of calls made and received, and messages sent and received are also being sought.

It is being said the Crime Branch is trying to get to the core of the issue and believes a nexus is at work, which is run by a higher authority.

Hence, there is no respite for the AIADMK leader as he has been called for questioning again at 5 p.m. today.

Earlier on Sunday, Dinakaran was cross examined along with his 'friend' Mallikarjuna and P.A. Janardhanan, sources state.

They were quizzed about the money trail of the alleged bribe. Also, the matter of Dinakaran staying over with Mallikarjuna for around 10 days after an FIR was filed against him was also brought up during the interrogation.

On Saturday, Dinakaran was given a set of questions by the Delhi Police in connection with the case.

The questionnaire included queries about the money trail, his association with Chandrashekhar, the middleman alleged to have struck deal for Rs. 50 crore to help Dinakaran's AIADMK faction keep the 'two leaves' poll symbol, how many times he met Sukesh and whether any meeting with the Election Commission officials took place or not etc.