The Election Commission has slapped a criminal case against Tamil Nadu Local Administration Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader M K Stalin who was shown on television distributing money to voters ahead of the by-elections in Thirumangalam.

Stalin is the son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and the front-runner to succeed him as head of the government.

The opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which released the video showing Stalin distributing money, has called it a violation of the poll code.

Both the DMK and AIADMK are engaged in a bitter fight over the Thirumangalam constituency near Madurai where by-elections are to be held on January 9.

The video showed Stalin distributing money, but the DMK claimed the recording was not recent nor from Thirumangalam but from a party function.