Former Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthil Balaji is set to appear before Chennai Police for questioning regarding an alleged conspiracy to undermine the state government. The investigation stems from claims of attempts to bribe legislators with significant amounts of money to bring down the TVK government led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.
The case unfolded after TVK MLA Dr Ilayaraja filed a complaint with Chennai Police Commissioner Amalraj, alleging an offer of Rs 35 crore to switch political loyalties as part of a larger scheme to overthrow the government. Subsequently, a special police team arrested several individuals reportedly linked to the plot, including key figures like Thirunavukkarasu, Thyagarajan, Naresh, Ramesh, Karthi, Selvan, Srinivasan, and Rajesh.
Sources close to the investigation revealed that the accused individuals disclosed during interrogation a plan to spend around Rs 180 crore to entice TVK MLAs to defect. Authorities are also examining allegations that the operation was orchestrated under the purported direction of Senthil Balaji and his brother Ashok Kumar.
In response to these developments, Triplicane Police issued summonses for Senthil Balaji and Ashok Kumar to attend questioning on Monday at 10.30 a.m. Police emphasized that cooperation with the ongoing probe is expected from both individuals, warning of potential legal consequences if they fail to comply without valid justification.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that airports nationwide have been alerted through a Look Out Circular (LOC) to prevent the two suspects from leaving the country while investigations are ongoing. Security measures at airports have been heightened as a precautionary measure, with surveillance increased to monitor the situation closely.
The inquiry into the alleged cash-for-defection conspiracy remains active, with authorities preparing to interrogate additional suspects in the days ahead.
