Chennai, Aug 5:
The Madras High Court has stayed further proceedings and the ongoing investigation by the Triplicane police in the alleged horse-trading case involving a TVK MLA, while directing the State and Union governments and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to respond to petitions seeking transfer of the probe.
The case stems from a complaint filed by TVK MLA N Elaiyaraja, who alleged that Thirunavukkarasu, an aide of former minister V Senthilbalaji, offered him Rs 35 crore to vote against the Speaker during a proposed no-confidence motion in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. He further claimed that he and his family were threatened after he refused the offer.
Based on the complaint, the Triplicane police registered a case and have arrested 14 persons so far, including Ramesh, who was recently granted bail by the High Court.
Hearing a batch of petitions, a Bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan ordered that all further proceedings and investigation in the case on the file of the Triplicane police station shall remain stayed until the next hearing on August 27.