The President's Office has submitted a complaint against Adhadhu to the Maldives Media Council (MMC) over the Bailakka documentary and related news articles about the alleged monthly cash handouts to ruling party MPs on behalf of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

The government threatened legal action on September 12 following the documentary produced by Adhadhu and the article with the headline "MVR 75,000 to each PNC MP from the President this month".

When questioned about the matter, President's Office Spokesperson Heena Waleed said a complaint had been submitted to the Media Council.

"The case has been reported to the MMC for deliberately spreading false information," she said.

In a post on X, Heena earlier said it was "completely untrue false news" and described the article as intended to instigate enmity against President Muizzu.

"We are working to take legal action by reporting to relevant authorities the dissemination of false news intended to create enmity towards the President," she stated.

However, information gathered by Adhadhu confirms that the alleged cash handouts have been ongoing for several months. Some MPs of the People's National Congress (PNC) have also confirmed this to Adhadhu.

Adhadhu has reported the alleged cash handouts every month since President Muizzu announced the decision to provide a monthly payment to PNC MPs during a meeting at his official residence Muleeaage on May 22.

The PNC leadership declined to comment on the Bailakka documentary while Dhuvaafaru MP Mohamed Ali, who was caught on camera carrying a black bag from the President's private residence to the PNC office, also did not respond to requests for comment.