RK Nagar bypoll: Curious case of FIR by Election Commission and Stalin's walkout over EPS' reply

A day after the Election Commission's order to register FIR against AIADMK (Amma) leaders including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami and TTV Dinakaran in RK Nagar bypoll bribery case, the matter took a curious turn today.

Opposition leader MK Stalin of DMK is the common chain to join the dots of the story that unfolded today first in the Tamil Nadu Assembly and then in the Madras High Court.

First thing first. Stalin raised the issue in Tamil Nadu Assembly seeking a reply from the Chief Minister about the status of the case and who all have been booked in connection with the RK Nagar bypoll bribery case.

Earlier, the Election Commission had issued orders to lodge FIR against AIADMK (Amma) after an RTI petition sought information about the case from the poll panel.

IN THE ASSEMBLY

Responding to Stalin's demand, Chief Minister E Palaniswami said that a case was registered and investigation was going on in the matter.

Stalin was not impressed with this reply from the Chief Minister and he pressed for more information as to who all were named in the FIR. EPS did not give details of the case.

A fuming, Stalin led a DMK walk out from the Assembly. Stalin called Chief Minister E Palaniswami's reply inadequate. Stalin demanded resignation of EPS from his post.

"The RTI application names of the Chief Minister and other ministers but if this government has initiated a probe, how could he still be the CM and expect a fair probe. He should resign immediately and prove his innocence," Stalin said.

IN THE HIGH COURT

Later in the day, a case that was filed by lawyer-activist Vairakannan in connection with RK Nagar bribery scandal came up for hearing in the Madras High Court. The Election Commission's reply to the Madras High Court further infuriated MK Stalin.

The Election Commission told the high court that a case had been registered in this connection in April itself. However, the intriguing part of the story is that the case filed in April named 'unknown persons' as accused while on Sunday, the Election Commission issued orders to lodge FIR against AIADMK leaders named in the RTI petition.

Stalin was anguished with the reply of the Election Commission. He was not happy with the wording of the letter by the Election Commission. The Election Commission has directed the Returning Officer in RK Nagar constituency that FIR 'may be' filed against AIADMK (Amma) leaders, Stalin said.

The DMK will raise the issue in Tamil Nadu Assembly tomorrow citing the 'loose strings' in the Election Commission's order.

WHAT IS THE CASE?

After the income tax department raid on Tamil Nadu Health Minister Vijayabhaskar's residence, the revenue department of the central government submitted a report to the Election Commission saying that AIADMK had set aside certain amount 'to be distributed among voters'.

The Election Commission had cancelled the bypoll for RK Nagar constituency, which had fallen vacant after former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's death.

Now, the Madras High Court has asked the Election Commission to submit to it the 'preliminary evidence' collated by the income tax department. The court had also asked the Tamil Nadu police to fire separate report on the matter before the case comes up for hearing on June 23.

The RTI petition which led to fresh order by the Election Commission for FIR has mentioned the names of TTV Dhinakaran, Edapadi K Palanisamy, Vijayabhaskar, Thangamani, SP Velumani, and two other ministers while seeking information from the poll panel.