Published Jul 02, 2026 | 1:17 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 02, 2026 | 1:17 PM
Tamil Nadu police. (Wikimedia)
Synopsis: A court in Chennai remanded three accused who were arrested after accusations of an attempt to poach several MLAs of the ruling TVK in Chennai to Puzhal Central Prison. The police also arrested six more people in connection with the case.
A court in Chennai remanded three accused who were arrested after accusations of an attempt to poach several MLAs of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in Chennai to Puzhal Central Prison on Thursday, 2 July, in connection with the case. Meanwhile, Ashok Kumar, the brother of former minister V Senthil Balaji, who is allegedly involved in the poaching attempt, is currently absconding.
The accused are Thirunavukkarasu, Naresh and Thiagarajan.
On Thursday, the police also arrested six more people in connection with the case. Those arrested include Selvan from Chennai, Srinivasan, State President of the Nadar Protection Council, Rajesh from Asthinapuram, Athiban Ramesh from Karur, Karthik, and another Ashok Kumar from Namakkal.
With these arrests, the investigation has widened further as police continue efforts to trace the absconding accused and examine the larger network connected to the case.
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The Chennai Police registered a criminal case based on a complaint filed by Dr N Elaiyaraja, a TVK legislator, who alleged that an unidentified individual attempted to bribe him with ₹35 crore and issued death threats as part of an alleged conspiracy to destabilise the ruling government.
According to the FIR registered at D1 Triplicane Police Station on 30 June, Elaiyaraja alleged that he received a phone call on 26 June from a person identifying himself as Thirunavukkarasu, who claimed to be running a Chennai-based survey organisation called IPDS.
The caller allegedly told the MLA that he was contacting him on behalf of leaders of an “important political party” and initially sought a personal meeting. After Ilayaraja refused, the individual repeatedly tried contacting him through WhatsApp calls.
According to the complaint, during a WhatsApp call later that night, the caller allegedly told Elaiyaraja that the present government would not survive for long and that cooperating with their plan would benefit him financially.
Police documents stated that the caller then allegedly offered ₹35 crore and asked Elaiyaraja not to follow the ruling party whip during a possible Assembly vote concerning a resolution related to the Speaker.
The caller allegedly told the MLA that if he agreed to cooperate, persons identified as Naresh, Krishnan and Ashok Kumar, who were allegedly connected to the “important political party”, would later meet him and handle further discussions.
When Elaiyaraja refused the offer, the caller allegedly repeated that ₹35 crore was available and told him such an opportunity would never come again.
The FIR further states that when the MLA rejected the proposal again, the caller allegedly threatened him, saying the government would soon collapse and warning that if he disclosed the conversation, both he and his family members would face serious consequences.
Seeking protection for himself and his family, Elaiyaraja requested police action against those allegedly involved in trying to bribe an elected representative and destabilise the democratically elected government.
He also submitted WhatsApp call history screenshots as supporting evidence.
Following a preliminary inquiry, Chennai Police registered a case under Sections 8 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Sections 61(2)(A) and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
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Meanwhile, CPI(M) State Secretary P Shanmugam demanded strict legal action against those allegedly involved in attempts to lure MLAs with money and accused DMK leaders of engaging in efforts to destabilise the state government.
Speaking to reporters in Coimbatore, Shanmugam said the people of Tamil Nadu had voted in the recently concluded Assembly election with the intention of bringing in a new government that was neither DMK nor AIADMK. He said that was the reason why nearly 1.75 crore people voted for TVK within just two years of the party’s formation.
He said left parties had decided to extend outside support to the TVK government as the party had emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly.
However, he alleged that DMK leaders, unable to accept losing power, were now attempting to topple the government through horse-trading and by trying to buy MLAs with crores of rupees.
Shanmugam said former chief minister MK Stalin had earlier spoken about an early election and regime change, and claimed recent reports of MLAs being offered huge sums of money now explained the background behind those remarks.
He said some arrests had already been made after reports emerged about attempts to buy MLAs and insisted the Tamil Nadu government should ensure strict legal action against everyone involved.
While saying that MLAs changing parties voluntarily was common in Tamil Nadu politics, he said purchasing legislators through financial inducements was unhealthy and unacceptable politics.
Shanmugam added that CPI(M) had already conveyed its dissatisfaction to the TVK leadership earlier when four MLAs resigned and joined the ruling party, stressing that such political practices should not be encouraged.
(With inputs from Subash Chandra Bose.)
