FIR registered over 'bribery of voters' in RK Nagar bypoll: TN CEO to HC

Chennai: The Madras High Court was on Thursday informed that a FIR has already been registered by the police over the alleged bribery of voters in R K Nagar assembly segment here.

A counter affidavit to this effect was filed by Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni following a PIL seeking a CBI probe into the alleged distribution of cash to voters for the April 12 R K Nagar by-election, which was cancelled.

The FIR was filed on the basis of a complaint lodged with the police by the returning officer of RK Nagar constituency on April 21, the official said and sought to dismiss the petition.

He also said it was for the state police to further investigate the case and take appropriate action under law to prosecute the offenders.

As many as 12 FIRs were registered in connection with distribution of items like saris, lamps etc to voters and 35 FIRs were registered on complaints regarding cash or gift distribution, the counter said.

The Election Commission, however, will follow up with the status of investigation and further prosecution with the police officials concerned without interfering or influencing the course of the same, the official added.

The counter affidavit stated that based on the information of tax evasion and distribution of money in the constituency, the I-T department had conducted searches at 21 locations here and at 11 places outside Chennai, belonging to State Health Minister C Vijaya Bhaskar and his associates.

The IT authorities had also informed that several complaints were received indicating the involvement of Bhaskar in the alleged bribery of voters at the constituency.

The CEO further submitted that petitioner Vairakkannan has not given any proof of the complaints given by him or proof of him being a resident of the constituency and no averment of being voter in the constituency has been made.

The by-election to R K Nagar constituency was necessitated following the death of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on December 5, 2016.