Chennai Police summon Senthil Balaji in ₹180 crore TN govt toppling plot
Synopsis
Chennai Police have summoned former Tamil Nadu minister Senthil Balaji and his brother over an alleged ₹180 crore scheme to buy off ruling TVK legislators and collapse the state government — a case that has already resulted in eight arrests and is now closing in on a prominent political figure.
Key Takeaways
Chennai Police issued summons to former minister V.
Senthil Balaji and brother Ashok Kumar on 5 July 2025 , directing their appearance on 6 July .
The case stems from a complaint by TVK MLA N.
Elaiyaraja , who alleged he was offered ₹35 crore to switch sides.
Interrogation of arrested suspects reportedly revealed an alleged fund pool of ₹180 crore to engineer legislator defections.
Eight individuals have been arrested so far, including an AIADMK functionary and the founder of polling firm IPDS .
Police are analysing electronic devices, financial records, and communications to map the alleged network.
Chennai Police on Saturday, 5 July 2025, issued summons to former Tamil Nadu minister V. Senthil Balaji and his brother Ashok Kumar, directing both men to appear before investigators on 6 July in connection with an alleged conspiracy to destabilise the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led state government. The summons were served at the family's ancestral home in Rameswarapatti village, Karur district, and were reportedly received by Senthil Balaji's father.
How the Investigation Began
The case was triggered by a complaint filed by N. Elaiyaraja, Member of the Legislative Assembly from Uthangarai constituency, who alleged he was offered ₹35 crore to switch political allegiance — part of a broader bid to bring down the state government. The complaint was submitted to the Chennai Police Commissioner's office, following which a formal case was registered and a probe launched.
Who Has Been Arrested
Acting on information provided by the legislator, police arrested several individuals allegedly involved in the operation. Those in custody include Tirunavukkarasu, founder of election polling firm IPDS; Thiyagarajan of Medavakkam; Naresh of Besant Nagar; Ramesh and Karthi from Karur; Selvan of Pallikaranai; AIADMK functionary Srinivasan of Manapakkam; and Rajesh of Hastinapuram.
The ₹180 Crore Alleged Conspiracy
According to police sources, interrogation of the arrested individuals reportedly revealed details of a far larger operation. Investigators claim that as much as ₹180 crore was allegedly earmarked to induce ruling TVK legislators to defect, with the stated objective of collapsing the state government. Authorities are now tracing the alleged financial trail, identifying individuals said to have coordinated the network, and assessing the full scale of the purported conspiracy.
Police are also examining electronic devices, financial records, and communications among the accused to determine whether a wider network was involved. Notably, investigators have not yet disclosed the specific questions they intend to put to the two brothers.
What Happens Next
The appearance of Senthil Balaji and Ashok Kumar before investigators on 6 July is expected to be a critical juncture in the probe. Police have indicated that further action — including the possibility of additional arrests — will depend on evidence gathered in the next phase of the inquiry. This comes amid heightened political tensions in Tamil Nadu, where allegations of legislator poaching have periodically surfaced since the TVK government assumed office.
Point of View
Which, if verified, would represent one of the more organised legislator-poaching operations in recent Tamil Nadu history. The involvement of an election polling firm founder among the arrested is a detail that deserves scrutiny: it raises questions about whether data and voter intelligence were part of the alleged operation, not just cash. The TVK government will be watching the 6 July appearance closely — the outcome could shape both the legal trajectory and the political narrative heading into the next electoral cycle.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Chennai Police summoned Senthil Balaji?
Chennai Police summoned former Tamil Nadu minister V. Senthil Balaji and his brother Ashok Kumar in connection with an alleged conspiracy to destabilise the ruling TVK-led government by bribing legislators. Both have been asked to appear before investigators on 6 July 2025.
What is the ₹180 crore conspiracy in the Tamil Nadu MLA poaching case?
According to police sources, interrogation of arrested suspects revealed that as much as ₹180 crore was allegedly set aside to induce TVK legislators to defect and bring down the state government. The claim emerged during questioning and is still being verified through financial records and electronic evidence.
Who filed the complaint that triggered the case?
TVK MLA N. Elaiyaraja from Uthangarai constituency filed the complaint, alleging he was offered ₹35 crore to switch political allegiance. The complaint was submitted to the Chennai Police Commissioner's office, leading to a formal case and subsequent arrests.
Who has been arrested so far in the Tamil Nadu government toppling case?
Eight individuals have been arrested, including Tirunavukkarasu, founder of election polling firm IPDS; Thiyagarajan of Medavakkam; Naresh of Besant Nagar; Ramesh and Karthi from Karur; Selvan of Pallikaranai; AIADMK functionary Srinivasan of Manapakkam; and Rajesh of Hastinapuram.
What happens after Senthil Balaji appears before investigators on 6 July?
Police have indicated that further action — including potential additional arrests — will depend on evidence gathered during the next phase of questioning. Investigators are examining financial trails, electronic devices, and communications to determine the full extent of the alleged network.
