AIADMK deputy general secretary TTV Dhinakaran appeared before the economic offences court on Friday for trial in two money laundering cases registered by Enforcement Directorate (ED), reported The Times of India.

Dhinakaran, a member of the Sasikala family who now wields much power in the party following her incarceration, had recently announced that he will contest the RK Nagar by-polls to be held following the death of J Jayalalithaa.

The case was adjourned to March 22. The additional chief metropolitan magistrate and economic court-II judge, Malarmathi, noted the presence of Dhinakaran in the court.

On March 18, 2015, Dhinakaran and his aunt VK Sasikala were acquitted in the case by another judge. But the Madras High Court, on February 1, 2017, reversed the judgement. The Times of India reported that there were six Enforcement Directorate cases against them, which includes one against Sasikala, two against Dhinakaran and three against the companies in which Sasikala and her kin were partners.

Moreover, one case against Dhinakaran is for the transfer of $1.04 crore to Dipper Investment through Barclay Bank, Virgin Islands, and other related to transfer of £44.37 lakh through Westbank Limited, Ireland.

TTV Dhinakaran was announced as the AIADMK candidate from RK Nagar on April 12. With high political risks, Sasikala’s nephew and AIADMK Deputy General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran’s decision to become the AIADMK candidate has definitely raised the stakes. With former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam staking claim to AIADMK’s two-leaves, the Election Commission is likely to freeze the party symbol. This could very well hurt Dhinakaran’s chances in the polls.