SC Reserves Order On AIADMK Leader’s Plea Against MK Stalin

New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on the plea filed by AIADMK leader Saidai S Duraisamy against the Madras High Court’s order dismissing the election petition against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader MK Stalin regarding alleged corrupt practices in the 2011 Assembly elections. A bench comprising Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi heard the submissions of lawyers appearing on behalf of both the parties.

In 2017, the Madras High Court rejected the election petition of Duraisamy, who lost to Stalin from Kolathur by 2,739 votes in the 2011 polls.

Duraisamy claimed that money was distributed to voters in the constituency, exceeding the specified spending limit, and additional counting was carried out.

Duraisamy also accused the DMK of using its officials and money to attract voters through innovative methods that amounted to corruption under Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act.

The AIADMK leader said the DMK is using the ‘Thirumangalam Formula’ to provide money to voters in a “new” way through community feeds, courier service, currency in newspapers and vouchers for purchasing consumer products.