The Madras High Court on Monday dismissed a fresh public interest writ petition that sought an income tax and Election Commission of India (ECI) probe into alleged discrepancies in the financial declaration of actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder Vijay in his election affidavit filed for the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly election.
Court Refuses to Entertain Plea
Refusing to entertain the plea, the first bench comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan dismissed the petition filed by M P Venkatesh, a voter from Perambur constituency. The bench had already issued notice to authorities on another plea seeking similar relief against Vijay.
Petitioner's Allegations
According to the petitioner, Vijay declared in his election affidavit that he lent Rs 12.5 crore as a loan to his spouse, Sangeetha. This assumed greater significance considering widely reported developments concerning a matrimonial dispute between the couple, thereby raising legitimate questions about the genuineness, purpose, and characterisation of such transactions.
While claiming to have extended massive loans running into several crores, Vijay simultaneously declared zero liabilities and no outstanding dues, thereby projecting an artificially sanitised and misleading financial profile. Such contradictory disclosures, including large transfers such as Rs 20 crore to Kokilambal Educational Trust, are neither properly explained nor truthfully presented, he said.
A Disturbing Pattern
“A bare and meaningful reading of the affidavit discloses a disturbing and consistent pattern of suppression, misrepresentation, and financial obfuscation. These are not clerical errors but serious irregularities that vitiate the entire disclosure regime,” the petitioner added.
The present petition was therefore necessitated to uphold the sanctity of the Constitution, preserve the purity of elections, and prevent the subversion of democratic processes through false and misleading disclosures by candidates seeking public office, he said.
