A day after TTV Dhinakaran was arrested in New Delhi in the bribery case, a senior IPS officer is also being investigated in the ECI bribery case, according to The Times of India.

It is reported that TTV Dhinakaran told the interrogators in Delhi that a senior police officer from the state approached him with an offer of saving him from the case. It is said that the IPS officer wanted to be inducted into the state intelligence wing with full functional independence in return for his help.

The IPS officer had also promised that he could delay the issue of a summon to Dhinakaran. He added that his previous experience of working in central government will help Dhinakaran and he knew Delhi police officials who could help him weaken the case against Dhinakaran.

An officer from the investigation team told TOI that the IPS officer came into picture after Sukesh Chandrasekhar was arrested.

On Wednesday, a five-day police custody of accused Dhinakaran was granted to Delhi crime branch police. Dhinakaran will be brought to Chennai by Air India AI 429 flight by Delhi Police Crime branch team by 12:40 pm on Thursday to retrace crime route.

Meanwhile, hours after his arrest, the ruling faction was quick to distance itself from the Dhinakaran. Speaking to reporters, Law Minister CVe Shanmugam said, "TTV Dhinakaran will face the case on his own and we have already kept him away from party affairs." 

While Dhinakaran’s arrest was inevitable coming as it did after four days of intense interrogation, his supporters have accused former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam of colluding with the Centre for the Delhi Police’s action.  "The OPS faction has sold out to the BJP. They are dancing to the tune set by the Centre," says Nanjil Sampath, a TTV sympathiser. "We knew TTV will be arrested the minute OPS said that the climate for talks has come. Isn't what is happening here obvious? The BJP wants to make everyone Hindus and spread Hindi. Now, OPS too, who they have given Y level security, is with them," he adds.