‘Why no names yet in FIR in RK Nagar case’

The Madras High Court on Friday questioning the lack of names yet in the FIR despite the Election Commission (EC) naming people behind the alleged bribery, directed the Joint Commissioner of Police (East) to monitor the investigation in this regard and file a report. 

A division bench comprising Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice M Seshasayee, before whom the PIL filed by Advocate MP Vairakkannan came up, directed the Joint Commissioner as well as the counsel appearing for the EC and the state to file their counter by August 23. 

The petitioner had contended that though the EC directed the state Chief Electoral Officer (TNCEO) to take appropriate action against those involved in bribing voters resulting in the cancellation of the by-poll, the latter and R K Nagar returning officer had not done so. 

Citing an RTI response, he had submitted that the EC on April 18 had directed the TNCEO to lodge a police case against six people, including AIADMK (Amma) deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran, Chief Minister Eddapadi K Palaniswami and ministers KA Sengottaiyan, Sellur K Raju and Thangamani over the alleged bribery of voters.

He had also noted that the EC secretary Malay Mallick in his letter to the TNCEO had referred to the Income Tax report on raids in Tamil Nadu, vis-a-vis the by-poll and that the Commission had received a report on April 9 from the I-T department indicating large-scale distribution of money to bribe voters and those involved. It may be noted that during the earlier hearing, the High Court had asked the Abiramapuram police to submit the case dairy and EC’s counsel to submit its report sent to the TNCEO. 

In the subsequent hearing following the submission of the case diary and the EC’s report, the bench wondered as to why the three names mentioned in EC’s report have not been included in the FIR. Also, on Friday when the matter came up before Justice M Sathyanarayanan, who is heading the bench, asked the Advocate General why the names mentioned by the EC were yet to be shown in the FIR.