Madurai: The Madurai Central Crime Branch (CCB) on Saturday continued questioning senior AIADMK functionary and former Deputy Mayor P.M. Mannan for the second consecutive day in connection with allegations of an attempt to bribe ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) legislators in Tamil Nadu, IANS reported.

Source: IANS via The Freedom Press

Mannan, who is also the AIADMK's deputy propaganda secretary, appeared before investigators at the Central Crime Branch office in Viswanathapuram, Madurai, following a court directive issued on Friday. The case rests on a complaint by TVK legislator Madhar Badhurudeen, popularly known as Mustafa, the MLA for Madurai Central, who alleged that he was offered Rs 15 crore to support a possible no-confidence motion against the government headed by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, ANI reported.

Source: ANI via Daily Prabhat

According to IANS, Mannan was taken into custody on Friday morning and questioned for more than eight hours under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police Divya, with investigators examining his mobile phone conversations and communication records. He was then produced before Special Judge R. Joseph Joy at the district court, which released him on a personal bond of Rs 25,000 and directed him to appear before the investigating officer again on Saturday.

The Hindu reported that, on Mustafa's complaint, the CCB registered a case against Mannan under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and for criminal conspiracy, and that he was picked up for inquiry. Mustafa had told reporters at Madurai airport on Tuesday (November 4) that AIADMK functionaries were contacting TVK legislators with offers to engineer defections.

Source: The Hindu via NewsBites

The allegations are contested. AIADMK leader Sellur Raju has pointed out that Mustafa and Mannan are acquaintances, and party leaders have dismissed the case as politically motivated, according to reports. Police say the investigation is continuing to determine whether an organised attempt was made to influence legislators through financial inducements. Mannan has not been convicted of any offence, and the bribe allegation remains unproven.