Tamil Nadu urban local body polls: Candidate bribes voters with fake gold coins
India Today
Manimegalai Duraipandi, who contested for the Councillor post in Ambur, had given fake gold coins to garner votes. She had given copper coins coated with a thin layer of gold. No case has been filed as people are afraid of facing action as they had taken gifts for votes.
Voters in Tamil Nadu’s Ambur were furious after being cheated by an independent candidate. Manimegalai Duraipandi, an independent candidate, had contested the 36th ward in Ambur for a Councillor post.
She had canvassed votes from the region requesting the public to vote for the Coconut tree symbol on February 19. She had allegedly given a gift to voters on the night of February 18, with her husband.
Voters from the region claim that Manimegalai Duraipandi had allegedly given each family a gold coin inside a small box and requested them not to open it until the counting date.
She had apparently told voters that if they tried to use the coin within three days of voting, the State Election Commission would come to know about it and they would seize it.
However, a few people had tried to pawn them on Sunday and were shocked to find that the coins were not gold but copper. The pawnshop keeper had already known that Manimegalai Duraipandi had allegedly given copper coins coated with a thin layer of gold.
A woman who had taken the gold coin said, “Manimegalai Duraipandi told us that she had taken a mortgage on her house for Rs 20 lakh and bought the gold coins and begged people to vote for her.”
The woman added that the people in the area took pity and voted for her and are now regretting their decision.
