Published May 13, 2026 | 12:36 PM ⚊ Updated May 13, 2026 | 12:36 PM
TVK president and Tamil Nadu CM Vijay.
Synopsis: A petition in the Madras High Court challenges the appointment of Ricky Rathan Pandit Vettrivel, astrologer to Chief Minister Vijay, as Officer on Special Duty (Political). Filed by advocate R. Rathi, it alleges the move bypassed rules and amounted to “backdoor entry.” Vettrivel, a close confidant and spiritual adviser, previously mentored Jayalalithaa.
A petition has been filed in the Madras High Court challenging the appointment of Ricky Rathan Pandit Vettrivel, said to be Chief Minister Vijay’s astrologer, as Officer on Special Duty (Political).
The petition was filed on behalf of advocate R. Rathi from Tiruvallur district.
According to the plea, the appointment was made without following any established rules or procedures and without issuing any public notification, making the appointment illegal.
The petition further contended that the appointment amounted to a “backdoor entry” into government service and was contrary to the Constitution as well as Supreme Court judgments governing public appointments.
The petitioner sought an interim order restraining Ricky Rathan Pandit Vettrivel from continuing in the post of Special Officer.
Meanwhile, advocate Krishnamoorthy also made a mention before the High Court challenging the appointment of Ricky Rathan Pandit as Special Officer.
The Madras High Court permitted the matter to be formally filed as a petition.
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Vijay, it is said, has a deep interest in spirituality and astrology, and many of his political decisions were made on his astrologer’s advice. Vettrivel is said to have been offering spiritual guidance to Vijay for the past two years.
TVK circles claimed that Vettrivel had predicted Vijay’s historic political victory in advance.
As a result, Vettrivel is considered to be among Vijay’s close confidants. Alongside his role as a spiritual adviser, he had also represented TVK in television debates as one of the party’s spokespersons.
Vijay is not the only actor-turned-chief minister associated with Vettrivel. The said astrologer’s website claimed that he had been a “spiritual mentor” to former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
