AIADMK (Amma) deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran and his close aide Mallikarjuna were granted bail by special court in the Election Commission bribery case on Thursday. The duo were alleged to have attempted to bribe certain officials of the Election Commission for allotment of 'Two Leaves’ symbol to the Amma faction.
Special Judge Poonam Chaudhary granted them bail on a personal bond of Rs. 5 lakh with one surety of a like amount furnished by both accused. While granting bail, the Judge also put certain conditions on the two accused - to not threaten witnesses or tamper with evidence.
Dhinakaran had sought bail arguing that as no public servant had been made accused in the corruption case against him, there was no reason to keep him in judicial custody .
Mallikarjuna argued that he had joined investigation even without being summoned, and no recovery had been made from him. Counsel for the Delhi Police had opposed their bail applications, submitting that they might tamper with evidence or interfere in investigation if granted bail.
A police probe is underway into the alleged conspiracy for bribing a senior EC official to get the AIADMK’s “Two Leaves” election symbol for Mr. Dhinakaran’s faction ahead of the R.K. Nagar Assembly by-election in Chennai. The poll body had later cancelled the election based on evidence that large sums of cash and gifts had been distributed to influence voters. Mr. Dhinakaran was arrested in New Delhi on April 25 after several rounds of questioning.
Apart from Mr. Dhinakaran and his associate Mallikarjuna, alleged middleman Sukesh Chandrasekhar and “hawala operator” Naresh were also arrested.
Police claim to have established the link between Mr. Dhinakaran and Chandrasekhar based on phone records. Three more persons are under the scanner.
