Vasanthakumar detained, released on bail

CHENNAI: Congress MP H Vasanthakumar was arrested for alleged corrupt practices and staying in Nanguneri Assembly constituency in the district in ‘violation’ of election rules during a bypoll held there on Monday, police said. A case has been registered against him under Indian Penal Code sections, including 171-H (Illegal payments in connection with an election), and under section 123 of the Representation of the People Act (corrupt practices), they said.

Vasanthakumar, whose resignation on his election to Lok Sabha from Kanniyakumari necessitated the bypoll in Nanguneri, was later produced before a court which released him on bail. Meanwhile, state Congress chief KS Alagiri slammed the ruling AIADMK for allegedly abusing power and illegally detaining Vasanthakumar for just passing by Nanguneri, fearing defeat.

Accusing the AIADMK of attempting to create tension on polling day fearing defeat at the hustings, Alagiri said the Nanguneri police had detained Vasanthakumar despite heeding their advice and taking an alternate route to reach his constituency from Palayamkottai. Alleging that he was intercepted by cops on the alternate route suggested by them and taken for inquiry, the state Congress president, in a statement, condemned the “murder of democracy” and said the cops had denied the fundamental right of a MP (to travel to his constituency) and illegally detained him in the pretext of inquiry.

Charging the ruling AIADMK with deputing 13 Ministers, who had camped in Nanguneri for the last one month, to distribute cash for votes, Alagiri said the ruling party had engaged in a lot of excesses with the support of the police. The state Congress chief said the people of Nanguneri would teach a fitting lesson to the ruling party for the excesses by electing his party candidate.