AIADMK's P M Mannan arrested over alleged offer to TVK MLA, freed on bond by Madurai judge

Madurai’s Central Crime Branch arrested AIADMK functionary P M Mannan on Friday, the former deputy mayor, over an alleged attempt to buy the vote of a legislator belonging to the ruling TVK. A judge later declined to remand him and let him go.

The complaint

The complaint was filed by the personal assistant of Madurai Central MLA Madar Badhurudeen, also known as Mustafa. Police say Mannan offered the MLA ₹15 crore to ₹30 crore to vote against the state government in a possible no-confidence motion in the Assembly. The MLA’s account is that Mannan phoned him with the offer, payable in two instalments. The allegation is at the complaint stage and no court has examined it.

Officers questioned Mannan from about 6 am on Friday, for more than four hours, and went through the call records on his phone. Investigators are also examining audio material and trying to identify others who may have been involved.

The judge’s question

Mannan was produced at the judge’s residence because the court was closed for a local holiday. Joseph Joy, the in-charge judge of the Madurai special anti-corruption court, asked police why he had been arrested on Friday when he had already been summoned to appear on Saturday. He refused to remand Mannan and released him on a personal bond of ₹25,000.

Mannan has said he will cooperate and was summoned to the CCB for 10 am on Saturday.

Party responses

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami called the arrest a “false case” fabricated by police under the TVK government. Former ministers Sellur K Raju and R P Udhayakumar and former MLA Rajan Chellappa met Mannan at the CCB office and said the party had no intention of buying TVK MLAs to topple the government.

The TVK, led by Chief Minister Vijay, has alleged attempts to poach its legislators. The government won a trust vote in May.