AIADMK symbol case: Hawala operator arrested for transferring Rs 10 crore from Dinakaran to middleman

The Delhi Police's crime branch arrested a hawala operator from the city airport Friday morning for allegedly transferring money for AIADMK deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran.

Naresh, the accused, has been arrested for transferring around Rs 10 crore from Dinakaran to middleman Sukesh Chandrashekhar via hawala channels.

An investigating officer said Naresh is a friend of Chandrashekhar and has helped him in transferring money in the past too. Police said they will interrogate Naresh and help identify other accused involved in the case.

Police have arrested Dinakaran and his aide Mallikarjun for allegedly paying middleman Chandrashekhar to get the party's disputed two leaves symbol by bribing election officials. Police had recovered Rs 1.30 crore in cash from Chandrashekhar's room in a city five star hotel. Chandrashekhar had allegedly assured Dinakaran that he would bribe election official and get a favourable decision in Dinakaran's favour.

The police team arrested Dinakaran earlier this week after interrogating him for around



four days. Police have taken Dinakaran to Chennai for investigation. Police had first arrested Chandrashekhar on April 16.

Police have alleged that Dinakaran promised Chandrashekhar Rs 50 crore if he could manage the disputed two leaves symbol. The party symbol has been freezed by the election commission following party supremo and Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalitha's death which spilt the party into two factions.

Chandrashekar cites threat

Chandrashekhar, who has in the past been booked in at least 15 cheating cases, told a city court that he was threatened inside the premises. Sources said Chandrashekhar claimed that last week, before the court hearing, a man posing as a journalist approached him in court and warned him not to take names in court. Chandrashekhar has alleged that the man spoke in Tamil because of which others in the court did not understand.

Following Chandrashekhar's complaint, police on Wednesday increased security outside the court and stopped journalists from being present during Chandrashekhar's hearing.