Chennai: Madras high court on Tuesday stayed the framing of charges against Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran in the Rs 4 crore cash seizure case registered during 2024 Lok Sabha elections.Originally, a metropolitan magistrate court in the George Town court complex 2qs scheduled to frame the charges in the case on Aug 12.During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when the model code of conduct (MCC) was in force, about Rs 4 crore in cash was from Nellai Express train stationed at the Tambaram railway station. It was alleged that the money was being transported for distribution to voters in the Tirunelveli constituency, where Nainar Nagendran was contesting.CB-CID police registered a case against 13 persons, including Nainar Nagendran and former Tamil Nadu BJP organisational general secretary Kesava Vinayagam and BJP state treasurer S R Sekar.A chargesheet was filed by the CB-CID before a metropolitan court in Chennai against 13 accused, including Nainar Nagenthran, Kesava Vinayagam and Sekar. Copies of the chargesheet were also furnished to all the accused.While so, Sekar moved the high court seeking quashing of the case against him and to stay the trial pending disposal of the case. He contended that the final report filed by the CB-CID police was mechanical in nature and that the case against him was being proceeded without sufficient evidence.According to Sekar, the case has been registered against him solely based on the statements given by two accused. Police have not produced any legally admissible evidence before the court to establish that the money was being transported for distribution to voters, he said.Recording the submissions, Justice V Lakshmi Narayanan passed the interim order and adjourned the hearing to August 19.
