TN Minister promises inquiry into IUML MLAs' confinement, bribery claims

Tamil Nadu's Public Works Minister, Aadhav Arjuna, announced on Monday that an investigation would be launched into allegations of horse-trading and the illegal confinement of two Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) legislators. The minister directly implicated the opposition DMK in the matter, which pertains to events preceding the formation of the current Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government.

The announcement follows a controversy sparked by IUML MLA Syed Farooq Basha. During a party meeting in Tiruvannamalai on Saturday, Basha claimed that after the Assembly election results, individuals approached him and another party MLA with offers of crores of rupees to switch their allegiance.

Speaking in the Assembly on Monday, Basha stated that his remarks were being misrepresented by the DMK. Intervening in the discussion, Minister for Minorities Welfare A.M. Shahjahan, who belongs to the IUML, offered clarifications, noting that his party's statements were being selectively quoted. He explained that while the IUML initially supported the DMK-led alliance after the results on May 4, it extended support to the TVK on May 9 to prevent the imposition of Governor's rule.

Shahjahan detailed that the alleged contact with the MLAs occurred on May 7, when attempts were made to influence their decision regarding the Chief Minister. He claimed that the DMK leadership made decisions and conveyed proposals to the IUML, which the party refused to accept. He warned that a situation might arise where the party would have to reveal details about who took the two IUML MLAs to the Accord Hotel after 10 p.m. on May 8, who threatened them, and who kept them under watch.

Following these statements, Minister Arjuna pointed out that the Accord Hotel is owned by DMK MP Jagathrakshakan. He recorded in the Assembly that an inquiry would be conducted shortly into who confined the MLAs at the hotel, asserting that the DMK was responsible for the alleged horse-trading.