TTV Dhinakaran case: Delhi police question several men on cash trail

The Delhi Police has questioned various men suspected to be linked with the money trail in the Election Commission bribery case in which AIADMK (Amma) leader T T V Dhinakaran was arrested. After bringing Dhinakaran from Delhi and conducting searches at his residence in Chennai, the Crime Branch police personnel also grilled some others who allegedly had knowledge about the money transaction, the police sources said.

Dhinakaran was arrested on April 25 for allegedly attempting to bribe an unidentified EC official to get the undivided AIADMK's 'two leaves' election symbol for his faction. The police had earlier arrested Sukesh Chandrasekar, who had allegedly struck a deal for Rs 50 crore to help the AIADMK (Amma) faction keep the two leaves symbol, and seized Rs 1.3crore from him. A Delhi court had remanded Dhinakaran to five days'police custody following which he was brought to Chennai.

The Delhi police after questioning the suspects asked some of them to appear again at the Central Government Office Complex, 'Rajaji Bhawan,' at Besant Nagar in Chennai, they said.

Besides, the police team visited various areas, includingAdambakkam and Kolapakkam here, to question some persons,whose identity has not been disclosed.

The sources said that evidence was being gathered to sequence the Chennai-Delhi money trail, its alleged link toDhinakaran, and how cash was routed through alleged hawalaoperators including Faisal and Naresh.

The latter was arrested on Friday. Besides the physical aspect involving the transfer, thesource of the money, proof of cash transfer, and related transactions were being looked into.

With the arrest of Naresh, it was now only about "joiningthe dots" and the Delhi Police was trying to conclude theprobe ahead of producing Dhinakaran before a court in thenational capital when his five-day custody ends, the sources added.

Dhinakaran continued to be housed in the Central Government Guest House in Rajaji Bhawan and was being confronted with the "developments" in the case, the police said.

The Delhi Police team declined to comment on the progress in the case. A security blanket has been thrown around the RajajiBhawan complex with a posse of police personnel led by anassistant police commissioner guarding the entry points to theguest house.

Journalists were not allowed to enter inside. Naresh was detained at the Delhi Airport for involvementin "illegal transfer" of money to Chandrasekhar by Dhinakaran.