Two leaves symbol case: Delhi court adjourns matter for April 1

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday adjourned hearing till April 1 the matter related AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran and three others in a case of alleged attempt to bribe the Election Commission (EC) to get the 'two leaves' symbol for his party.

A single judge bench of the high court presided by Justice Sunil Gaur adjourned the matter after the counsel for the accused persons (petitioners) sought more time for final arguments in the case and Justice Gaur recused himself from hearing the case.

The status quo of interim stay for the trial proceedings against Dhinakaran and others was extended till next hearing.

Since the judge recused to hear it, the case may be listed in some other bench.

On March 20, the court had also adjourned till April 30 hearing on another plea of Dhinakaran for not giving his voice sample to the Delhi Police in connection with the case. The Investigating Officer had served a notice on him asking him to give his voice sample.

During the hearing, Dhinakaran's lawyers Arvind Nigam and Naveen Malhotra had told the court that the Supreme Court has reserved a judgement related to the case of taking voice sample of the accused without his consent and sought adjournment till the judgement is passed by the top court.

Dhinakaran had approached the High Court, challenging a trial court order which had framed charges under Section 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and 201 (destruction of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code and under Section 8 (bribes to influence public servant) of the Prevention of Corruption Act against him.

Last year, the Delhi Police had filed a charge sheet against 9 persons including Dhinakaran in the Patiala House Court. He is currently on bail while middleman Sukesh Chandrasekhar is currently in judicial custody.

The charge sheet alleged that Chandrasekhar had conspired with Dhinakaran to bribe EC officials to get the two leaves symbol. Dhinakaran was also named an accused in a supplementary charge sheet by the Delhi Police.