RK Nagar bypoll: EC seizes Rs 15 lakh in cash, 25 booked for distribution of money to voters

Chennai: An amount of Rs 15 lakh has been seized in bypoll bound RK Nagar here and 28 persons arrested in connection with alleged distribution of money to voters and a related violent incident. [caption id=“attachment_3140154” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. PTI[/caption] Seizure of Rs 14.92 lakh was made by flying squads and static surveillance teams of the Election Commission, according to the poll authorities. While three AIADMK activists (Dinakaran’s Amma faction) were arrested for allegedly attacking DMK cadres over a row, 25 others were arrested on the basis of 15 cases registered for alleged distribution of money to the voters, police said. The attack on DMK men was over a row related to alleged money distribution, they added. Meanwhile, videos of alleged money distribution in RK Nagar and markings made in the area to facilitate it are doing the rounds in social media and messaging app Whatsapp. DMK Working president MK Stalin visited a hospital where his party cadres were admitted following the attack. He alleged that Dinakaran-led AIADMK faction was trying to bury democracy by using money power. Speaking to reporters in Chennai, he said his party was preparing to deal with the matter legally, besides taking it up with poll authorities. Commenting on the alleged money distribution, PMK chief Ramadoss demanded countermanding of RK Nagar bypoll. He said the bypoll should be held after the cash distribution’s impact faded. The bypoll should be held by drafting officers only from outside of Tamil Nadu and by deploying Central police forces, he said.