The Chennai Police has issued summons to former Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthil Balaji and his brother Ashok Kumar in connection with an investigation into an alleged conspiracy. The investigation revolves around claims of attempting to destabilize the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led state government by enticing legislators with cash. The summons direct both individuals to appear before investigators on July 6 at their ancestral residence in Rameswarapatti village, Karur district.
Police officials confirmed that the summons were received by Senthil Balaji’s father. The probe was initiated following a complaint by N. Elaiyaraja, MLA from Uthangarai constituency. Elaiyaraja alleged that he was offered Rs 35 crore to switch political allegiance, aiming to bring down the state government in Tamil Nadu. The complaint led to the registration of a case and the subsequent launch of an investigation by the Chennai Police Commissioner’s office.
Authorities have arrested several individuals allegedly involved in the operation, including Tirunavukkarasu, Thiyagarajan, Naresh, Ramesh, Karthi, Selvan, Srinivasan, and Rajesh. These arrests were made based on information provided by the legislator. Investigators claim that during questioning, they uncovered details of a larger conspiracy. It is alleged that up to Rs 180 crore was earmarked to induce ruling TVK MLAs to defect, with the intention of destabilizing the state government.
The ongoing probe involves examining the financial trail, identifying those coordinating the operation, and determining the extent of the purported conspiracy. Officials are analyzing electronic devices, financial records, and communication between the accused to establish the involvement of a wider network. As part of the investigation, police are set to question Senthil Balaji and Ashok Kumar regarding their alleged connections to the arrested individuals and the emerging claims.
Authorities have not disclosed the specific questions they plan to ask the two brothers. The investigation is still ongoing, with police indicating that further actions will be based on the evidence gathered in the upcoming phase of the inquiry.
