The Supreme Court on Thursday, 19 February 2026, reserved its order on a plea filed by AIADMK leader Saidai S. Duraisamy challenging a Madras High Court judgment that had dismissed his election petition against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader MK Stalin over alleged corrupt practices in the 2011 Assembly elections.
MK Stalin case: Supreme Court reserves order in plea by AIADMK leader SA Duraiswamy challenging TN CM Stalin’s 2011 assembly election win from Kolathur constituency.
The plea alleges that Stalin and his party representatives indulged in corrupt practices, particularly by… pic.twitter.com/cwXEI0184g
— Bar and Bench (@barandbench) February 19, 2026
A bench comprising Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi heard submissions from counsel appearing for both sides before reserving its verdict.
Duraisamy had contested the 2011 Tamil Nadu Assembly election from the Kolathur constituency, where he lost to Stalin by a margin of 2,739 votes. Following the defeat, he filed an election petition alleging large-scale electoral malpractices.
In 2017, the Madras High Court dismissed Duraisamy’s petition.
In his plea, the AIADMK leader alleged distribution of money to voters, violation of prescribed election expenditure limits, and irregularities including supplementary counting. He further accused the DMK of deploying party functionaries and financial resources to influence voters through methods he described as innovative inducements amounting to “corrupt practice” under Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act.
Duraisamy also alleged that the DMK employed what he termed the “Thirumangalam Formula” to distribute money to voters through indirect channels, including community feasts, courier deliveries, cash concealed in newspapers, and slips enabling the purchase of consumer goods.
The Supreme Court has reserved its order on the matter.
Source: Deccan Chronicle
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