Delhi Police Questions TTV Dhinakaran in Cash-for-Symbol Case
The AIADMK leader is accused of allegedly offered a Rs 50 crore bribe to an EC official for the ‘two leaves’ symbol.
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- TTV Dhinakaran is accused of allegedly offered a Rs 50 crore bribe to an EC official for the ‘two leaves’ symbol
- On Tuesday, the Delhi Police issued a lookout notice against the leader, fearing he would try to flee the country
- The next day, Dhinakaran was summoned by the police, and asked to join probe by Saturday
- TTV Dhinakaran reached Delhi Police crime branch for questioning for bribing the election commission
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Delhi Police on Saturday questioned sidelined AIADMK Deputy General Secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran for allegedly attempting to bribe Election Commission officials in a case related to the party's poll symbol.
Dhinakaran, the nephew of jailed party chief Sasikala, appeared before the investigators in Delhi in the afternoon after arriving from Chennai and was questioned till late night.
Investigators said that Dhinakaran's personnel assistant was also interrogated over the issue and was asked if he knows the alleged middleman Sukesh Chandrasekar who was arrested from a five-star hotel on 16 April.
They further said that Dhinakaran was questioned alone and also confronted with Chandrasekar to clarify their versions over the issue.
As part of investigation, the officers also go through the call records of the politician.
Dhinakaran appeared before Delhi Police's interstate crime Branch office in Chanakyapuri in the capital's diplomatic enclave following its 19 April summons with Saturday deadline.
"Dinakaran reached at the Crime Branch office and was questioned over nine hours," said a Crime Branch official.
Police Compound Residents Hassled Due to Dhinakaran Security
Residents of the police compound at Teen Murti Marg faced inconvenience today as there was heavy security and checking owing to AIADMK (Anna) leader T T V Dhinakaran's appearance before police for questioning.
Residents, who were entering the premises, were asked to produce ID cards by cops.
Those who weren't carrying ID cards were asked to call their family members from inside and were only allowed entry after their family members came to vouch for them.
Cops stationed there said that they have been given instructions to ensure that no mediaperson enters the complex.
"Some mediapersons had managed to come inside the complex in the morning on the pretext of buying things from a shop.
But as soon as they started moving towards the office, they were sent back," said another resident.
Dhinakaran Reaches Delhi Police Crime Branch
TTV Dhinarakan reached Delhi Police crime branch on Saturday afternoon to be questioned for bribing the election commission for the AIADMK election symbol.
"Dinakaran is being asked about the money trail, his association with Sukesh (Chandrasekar) and whether he has met any Election Commission official or not. After this, there is high possibility of cross-questioning of the two," a senior police official told NDTV.
Dhinakaran Heads to Delhi
On Saturday morning, AIADMK Deputy General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran left from Chennai for Delhi, where he’s been summoned by the police for allegedly offering bribe to an Election Commission official for AIADMK’s ‘two leaves’ symbol. He will appear before the police later in the day.
Panel Created to Hold Talks With OPS Faction
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palanisamy on Friday formed a seven-member committee to hold merger talks with the AIADMK Puratchi Thalaivi faction headed by O Panneerselvam.
The panel will be headed by Rajya Sabha MP R Vaithilingam and includes ministers C Sreenivasan, KA Sengottaiyan, D Jayakumar, among others.
According to CNN-News18, the ruling AIADMK has agreed for a CBI probe into former CM Jayalalithaa’s death, which was also one of Panneerselvam camp’s demands.
It also said that Palanisamy is likely to retain his CM chair, while Panneerselvam may hold the party’s general secretary post.
'No Talks Till Sasikala, Dhinakaran Submit Resignations'
Hardening its stance for merger talks, the Panneerselvam camp had on Thursday demanded that the ruling AIADMK formally expel Sasikala and the party’s Deputy General Secretary Dhinakaran besides about 30 other members of their family from the party.
It also demanded that the Palanisamy faction inform the Election Commission that Sasikala and Dhinakaran no longer head the party.
Following the cabinet’s revolt against him early this week, Dhinakaran had said he was “stepping aside” in the interest of the party.
The Panneerselvam camp has also sought a CBI probe into the circumstances leading to former chief minister Jayalalithaa’s death on 5 December last year.
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