I was offered ₹5 crore to make someone Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram president: Tamil Nadu Minister Rajmohan

Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Rajmohan. File

Tamil Nadu Minister for Information and Publicity Rajmohan on Sunday alleged that he was offered ₹5 crore as a bribe to appoint someone as the president of the Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram.

Participating at the Tamil Nadu Day event celebrations at Egmore in Chennai, the Minister said: “I have not revealed this before. [Tamil Nadu Textbook Corporation chief] Layola Mani knows this. A person said, ‘If I am given the post of president of the Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram, I will offer ₹5 crore to Minister Rajmohan’. I smiled and told Layola Mani, even if someone offers ₹500 crore as bribe, I will not give the post to someone who is not suited for it. Without even getting a single rupee from anyone, Pushpavanam Kuppusamy, who is the most suited for the role, was appointed as the president of the association.”

According to him, for the first time in Tamil Nadu, every Minister [in the C Joseph Vijay cabinet] hates bribery and corruption.

Meanwhile, AIADMK leader D. Jayakumar questioned the identity of the person who allegedly offered to bribe Mr. Rajmohan and said the person should be prosecuted.

Speaking to reporters, he said: “There is no doubt that Pushpavanam Kuppusamy is the right person for that post. But, who was the one who came forward through [Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation] Layola Mani to offer ₹5 crore? Should that person not be brought before the law?”

Mr. Jayakumar added: “If Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay was honest, he should name the person and prosecute him.”

political parties / political development / crime / corruption & bribery / government / crime, law and justice / ministers (government) / Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam / Tamil Nadu