The judicial custody of an alleged middleman was on Wednesday extended by 14 days by a Delhi court in the Election Commission bribery case involving AIADMK (Amma) faction leader TTV Dhinakaran.
Extending the judicial custody of middleman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, special judge Arvind Kumar posted the matter for 4 April for arguments likely to be made on framing of charges. Chandrashekhar was arrested on 16 April last year.
On a plea of the Income Tax Department for his interrogation for alleged possession of assets worth more than his declared income, the court also asked Chandrashekhar to submit his response by 17 April.
In its plea, the I-T Department claimed that during its various search operations and inquiry conducted with regard to the matter, it was found that Chandrashekhar has purchased “11 luxury vehicles and one Ducati bike” as well as some expensive watches.
He made these purchases by making payments in cash, which was in violation of provisions of the I-T Act, the I-T Department claimed.
In the meantime, on Wednesday, the court granted bail to another accused in the case, Chennai-based senior advocate B Kumar.
The police, which filed a 701-page charge-sheet on 14 July 2017, had alleged that Chandrashekhar, Dhinakaran and others hatched a criminal conspiracy to bribe some officials of the Election Commission for securing the “two leaves” poll symbol for the AIADMK faction led by VK Sasikala.
The police also filed a supplementary charge-sheet in this regard against Dhinakaran, Chandrashekhar and seven others on 14 December last year.
According to the police, money recovered from Chandrashekar was allegedly sent by Dhinakaran through unaccounted channels with the help of the other accused.
Dhinakaran, arrested on 25 April, was granted bail on 1 June. Chandrashekhar’s name figured in the charge-sheet for forgery of valuable security, forgery for the purpose of cheating, making a false document and criminal conspiracy under the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act.