CHENNAI: A Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) MLA alleged that he was offered Rs 35 crore to vote in a particular manner during a proposed no-confidence motion against the Tamil Nadu Assembly speaker, leading to the arrest of three people.
According to the police, Dr N Elaiyaraja, TVK MLA from Uthangarai in Krishnagiri district, received a call from Thirunavukkarasu, who claimed to represent an opinion polling firm, Indian Political Democratic Strategies (IPDS), and requested a meeting on behalf of members of a major political party.
Police said the caller allegedly offered the MLA up to Rs 35 million to vote in a specific manner during the proposed motion. Elaiyaraja rejected the offer, after which he and his family were allegedly threatened with consequences if the conversation was revealed.
Following a complaint lodged by the MLA with the Chennai police commissioner on June 29, a case was registered at D1 Triplicane police station. Police arrested Thirunavukkarasu from Arumbakkam, Naresh from Tiruchy and Thiagarajan from Medavakkam.
The police alleged that the accused acted on the instructions of former minister and Coimbatore South MLA V Senthil Balaji and his brother, V Ashok Kumar. More research is being done.
