Delhi HC to Tihar: Don't torture middleman in AIADMK symbol bribery case

The Delhi High Court on Monday told Tihar Jail authorities not to torture alleged middleman in All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) election symbol bribery case.

The Court sought reply from Tihar Jail Authorities on a plea by middleman Sukesh Chandrasekhar wherein he alleged that he was strip-searched by jail officials when he was lodged in a high risk ward.

The court further sought to know from jail authorities as to why the accused was kept in a high-risk cell meant for dangerous criminals.

The Court also warned saying that any such incident will not be tolerated. The court has listed the matter for hearing on August 22.

Court also directed Tihar Jail Authorities to ensure that accused is not tortured in the custody.

The Election Commission (EC) bribery case also involves AIADMK (Amma) faction leader TTV Dhinakaran.

On July 17, a Delhi court adjourned the hearing on a charge sheet filed by the Delhi Police against Chandrasekhar in this matter.

The Tis Hazari court has set the next date of hearing on July 25.

He was arrested for allegedly taking money from Dhinakaran to bribe the EC officials to get the AIADMK's two leaves symbol for the faction lead by former general secretary of the AIADMK, V Sasikala.

Dhinakaran was arrested on April 25 for allegedly attempting to bribe an unidentified EC official. He was granted bail in the case on June 1. His aide Mallikarjuna, who was accused of helping Dhinakaran transfer his money from Chennai to New Delhi, was also granted bail.

On July 14, the Delhi Police filed a chargesheet in the Special Court of Judge Manoj Jain against Sukesh, who was arrested on April 16 and has been denied bail twice by the sessions court and then again by the Delhi High Court.

The police, however, did not name Dhinakaran in the final report and said that a supplementary charge sheet will be filed against him and other accused after it completes the probe against him.

The EC had frozen the AIADMK's symbol after the two factions - one led by Sasikala and the other by former chief minister O Panneerselvam - staked claim on it.