Balaji Murugadoss vs Tamil Nadu Police: CCTV evidence threatened after drug search row
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Actor Balaji Murugadoss and the Tamil Nadu Police are locked in a deepening public dispute over a narcotics search conducted at his Prestige Windsor Park apartment in Thiruverkadu, Chennai, with the actor threatening to produce CCTV footage in court to contradict the police version of events. The confrontation escalated on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, after the Avadi Police Commissionerate formally responded to the actor's social media allegations.
What Happened During the Search
On Monday, Murugadoss posted a video on social media showing officials from the Narcotics Department arriving at and searching his residence, with the actor stating he was 'clean' and demanding they explain the basis of their visit. In a post on X, he claimed: '15 police from Narcotics came to my house last night!' He added that no search warrant was produced, and said he voluntarily allowed them entry precisely because he had nothing to hide.
The actor further alleged that the team refused to disclose who had filed the complaint, despite repeated questioning. In a pointed message directed at actor Vijay, he posted: 'I just want to know who gave the complaint @actorvijay. I want to know who gave the complaint and for what! I asked them a number of times they didn't disclose. I'm up for blood test. But shame on your police department!' He also noted, with evident sarcasm, that 'Fifteen police came to my house, all they found is three cats and one dog!'
Police Version: 'Due Legal Procedure Followed'
The Avadi Police Commissionerate issued a formal clarification on X, directly contradicting the actor's account of the search party's size. The statement read: 'It is clarified that based on the input regarding drugs, a search was conducted in the premise at Prestige Windsor Park apartment, Thiruverkadu after making due procedural entries as prescribed by statute. It is further clarified that a team of one Inspector and 3 police personnel was involved in the search operation. During search operations, the occupants of the premise were treated courteously. Hence it is hereby reiterated that the entire search was conducted following due legal procedure.'
Notably, the police did not address the actor's demand to identify the complainant, nor did they clarify under which specific provision the search was initiated without a warrant being shown to the occupant.
Murugadoss Hits Back with CCTV Threat
Murugadoss responded swiftly to the police's tweet on Tuesday, quoting their post and writing: 'I'm really shocked! Not for their blatant lie, but for the way they tagged all the media. @avadipolice CCTV footage is going to scream "shame on you" in court.'
The actor's invocation of CCTV footage signals a potential legal escalation. If the footage corroborates his account of 15 personnel rather than the official figure of 4, it would directly contradict an official police statement — a development that could have significant procedural consequences. This is not the first time a Tamil Nadu celebrity has clashed publicly with the state police over a narcotics search, though few disputes have been this openly adversarial on social media.
Background and What Comes Next
Murugadoss was most recently seen in director J Sathish Kumar's film 'Fire', in which he played the antagonist. The actor's willingness to tag Vijay — who leads the political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) — adds a political dimension to the dispute that observers say is unlikely to fade quickly. The unresolved question of who filed the complaint, and why the information was withheld from the occupant, is likely to be the central issue if the matter moves to court. All eyes are now on whether Murugadoss formally files a legal challenge and whether the CCTV footage enters the public record.