CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday informed the assembly that the state police have registered a case on distribution of money to voters in R K Nagar where a byelection was to be held on April 13. The Election Commission rescinded the bypoll scheduled in the wake of bribery charges.The chief minister said the case was registered following Election Commission's directive based an income tax department report on the seizure of certain documents indicating large scale distribution of money to bribe voters. "A case has been registered by the police and investigation is underway," he said.Palaniswami made a statement to this effect after DMK working president and leader of the opposition M K Stalin and Congress floor leader K Ramasamy raised the issue of commission's directive, which went viral in social media following an RTI reply to a Chennai-based advocate.Unsatisfied by the reply, the DMK and allies walked out of the assembly.When the session began after the question hour, Stalin raised the issue of the EC communication to the chief electoral officer and urged the Chair to take up an adjournment notice given by the party to deliberate.While granting permission, Speaker P Dhanapal told the DMK leader not to get into the issue as the notice came in late and there was no time to get adequate information from the government. The election was rescinded by the full commission following I-T raids and seizure of documents indicating the names of chief minister and other ministers."Based on 34 page I-T report, the commission in April directed the CEO pointing to the bribery charges, an offence under section 171B of the IPC, to file an FIR. A copy of was sent to the chief secretary. Has there been a case registered? How can a CM, in charge of police department, file a case? Will the investigation be proper? The CM and ministers had taken oath of office under Constitution to discharge the duties..." Stalin said.Intervening in the debate, Dhanapal said, "I know what you are going to ask since I have been an MLA from 1977."Later, Dhanapal expunged certain remarks of Stalin and his own as well. "The EC communication has not indicated the names of CM and others," the speaker said.Stalin wondered how the chief minister who pleaded ignorance of the EC diktat yesterday, now claiming a case has been registered. "We are not satisfied," he said, leading a pack of DMK MLAs to walk out.Congress leader K Ramasamy said the government should inform the House the action taken on the case. Palaniswami said the commission had registered 48 cases against DMK as well on charges of bribery in R K Nagar.

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