CHENNAI: Triggering a political controversy, School Education and Tamil Development Minister Rajmohan claimed on Sunday that he was offered a Rs 5 crore bribe to secure the chairmanship of the Iyal Isai Nataka Manram.

Reacting to the claim, the opposition DMK and BJP questioned the minister for not reporting the matter to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC).

Speaking at the Tamil Nadu Day celebrations here, Rajmohan said an individual had offered him Rs 5 crore through TN Textbook and Educational Services Corporation chairman Layola Mani in exchange for securing the post. However, he said, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay would not appoint an unsuitable candidate even for Rs 500 crore.

"The Chief Minister directed that the post be given to Pushpavanam Kuppusaamy, whom he considered suitable, without accepting even a rupee," he said.

Reacting to the statement, the DMK IT wing questioned Mani's role in the alleged matter, arguing that he could not escape scrutiny if he had acted as an intermediary in the purported bribery attempt. It also questioned why neither Rajmohan nor Mani had lodged a complaint with the DVAC.

"Why are the minister and Layola Mani shielding the person who allegedly offered the bribe? Is it because they received a cut for the party fund," the DMK IT wing asked, urging the vigilance agency to register a case and initiate a suo motu investigation.

BJP state chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy also criticised the minister for not reporting the alleged incident to the authorities.

"Should not a minister holding public office have lodged a complaint against the person who attempted to offer the Rs 5 crore and Layola Mani, who allegedly acted as an intermediary," he asked.