The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its judgment on a plea filed by AIADMK leader Saidai S Duraisamy challenging a Madras High Court decision that had dismissed his election petition against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader M K Stalin over alleged corrupt practices in the 2011 Assembly elections.
A bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi heard detailed submissions from counsel representing both sides before reserving orders.
Duraisamy had contested the 2011 Tamil Nadu Assembly election from the Kolathur constituency and lost to Stalin by a margin of 2,739 votes. He subsequently filed an election petition before the Madras High Court alleging corrupt practices under Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
In 2017, the High Court dismissed the election petition.
In his plea, Duraisamy alleged that money was distributed to voters in Kolathur and that the expenditure incurred exceeded the statutory ceiling. He also raised issues relating to what he described as “supplementary counting.”
The AIADMK leader further claimed that DMK functionaries used various methods to influence voters, including community feedings, courier delivery of cash, currency placed inside newspapers, and distribution of slips that could be exchanged for consumer goods.
He described these methods as part of the so-called “Thirumangalam Formula,” which he alleged amounted to a “novel” form of bribery and corrupt practice within the meaning of the Representation of the People Act.
Challenging the High Court’s dismissal, Duraisamy approached the Supreme Court. On Thursday, the top court heard arguments from both parties on whether the High Court was justified in rejecting the election petition.
After hearing the submissions, the bench reserved its verdict.
