Rs 35 Crore Bribe, Three Arrests — Was There A Real Plot To Bring Down Tamil Nadu’s Vijay Government?

Tamil Nadu’s intelligence wing claims to have foiled an alleged bid to topple the TVK government just weeks after it assumed office through mass MLA resignations, cash bribes, and alleged DMK connections.

Alleged Conspiracy Against TVK Government Shakes Tamil Nadu Politics

A major political storm has broken out in Tamil Nadu. The state intelligence department says it has foiled an alleged plot to bring down the TVK government barely two months after Chief Minister Vijay took office.

The alleged scheme was audacious in scope. It reportedly involved convincing 15 TVK MLAs to resign simultaneously enough to destabilise the fledgling government from within.

MLA Filed Complaint: Rs 35 Crore Was On The Table

The case began when TVK MLA from Uthangarai, N Elaiyaraja, walked into a Chennai police station with a startling complaint. He alleged that a representative of consultancy firm IPDS approached him with a staggering offer Rs 35 crore to vote in favour of a no-confidence motion against Assembly Speaker JCD Prabhakar.

Elaiyaraja said the offer did not stop there. After he refused, he was threatened and warned against disclosing the conversation to anyone. He chose to report it anyway.

Three Arrested: Links To Senthil Balaji Emerge

Acting on the complaint, police registered a case at the D1 Triplicane Police Station and arrested Thirunavukkarasu of Arumbakkam, Chennai, along with Naresh of Tiruchirappalli and Thiyagarajan of Medavakkam, Chennai.

The arrests did not stop at three names. Further investigation revealed that V Ashok Kumar brother of former DMK minister and current MLA for Coimbatore South V Senthil Balaji had met accused Naresh in Chennai. Police sources confirmed that the two additional arrested individuals are DMK functionaries and are considered close associates of Senthil Balaji. They are also believed to be linked to business interests associated with him in Karur.

Search operations were carried out at the residences of the accused, during which key documents and cash were reportedly seized.

‘Karur Gang’ Named: Investigators Widen Probe

Investigators indicated that more than three MLAs were targeted in the alleged operation, with offers reportedly going up to Rs 15 crore per legislator. Officials are now probing the alleged conspiracy’s wider network with the so-called “Karur gang” firmly in the crosshairs.

TVK Minister Goes On The Offensive

Tamil Nadu Minister CT Nirmal Kumar came out swinging against the DMK. He alleged that the conspiracy reaches all the way to the top of the opposition camp.

“Individuals directly associated with Senthil Balaji, as well as those from the so-called ‘Karur Gang’, are directly implicated in this matter. The police must take legal action and arrest everyone involved. They must put an end to such nefarious activities,” Kumar said.

He went further accusing the DMK of working hand-in-glove with AIADMK’s Edappadi K Palaniswami to undermine the Vijay-led government.

“Edappadi Palaniswami and others were attempting to form a government through underhanded means. Today, we are seeing the manifestation of that. Key DMK figures like Senthil Balaji, acting on the orders of MK Stalin and Udhayanidhi, have been contacting many of our MLAs. They have been offering sums of Rs 10 crore, 20 crore, or even 50 crore. There isn’t a single MLA they haven’t approached,” Kumar claimed.

DMK Fires Back Calls It A Narrative

The DMK was quick to hit back accusing TVK of selectively leaking investigation details to manufacture a political crisis.

“TVK just wants to create a public perception by leaking investigation details. This shows they are low on facts and only want to create a narrative,” DMK spokesperson A Saravanan told reporters.

Saravanan dared the TVK government to arrest Senthil Balaji directly if it genuinely had concrete proof against him.

Vijay And Balaji: A History Of Bad Blood

The Vijay–Senthil Balaji rivalry is not new. The two men share a famously bitter relationship. A Vijay election rally in Karur Balaji’s home turf ended in tragedy with a deadly stampede. Vijay had accused Balaji of orchestrating the chaos to discredit him. Balaji denied the allegation.

That simmering hostility now sits at the centre of one of Tamil Nadu’s most explosive political controversies with fresh arrests, crore-level bribe claims, and a government insisting it will not be moved.