ED summons ex-TN Health Minister Vijayabaskar again in ₹35.79 crore assets case
Synopsis
The ED has summoned ex-Tamil Nadu Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar and his wife for a second time in a ₹35.79 crore disproportionate assets case — a probe that originated from a 2021 DVAC complaint and now follows the former AIADMK minister into his new role as a Pudukkottai district official of the ruling TVK.
Key Takeaways
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued fresh summons to former Tamil Nadu Health Minister C.
Vijayabaskar and wife V.
Ramya in a ₹35.79 crore disproportionate assets case.
One has been called to the Chennai ED zonal office on Friday ; the other is to appear the following week.
This is the second round of summons; the couple had earlier appeared before investigators in 2024 .
The case originated from a DVAC complaint in 2021 and a charge sheet filed in May 2023 alleging assets beyond legitimate income during Vijayabaskar's tenure as Health Minister ( 2016–2021 ) under the AIADMK government.
ED searches were conducted at his Illuppur, Pudukkottai residence on 21 March 2024 .
Vijayabaskar now serves as Pudukkottai district organisational secretary of the ruling TVK .
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a fresh round of summons to former Tamil Nadu Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar and his wife V. Ramya as part of its ongoing money laundering probe into an alleged disproportionate assets case worth ₹35.79 crore. The central agency has directed one of them to appear before its Chennai zonal office on Friday, while the other has been asked to present themselves for questioning the following week, according to ED sources.
Second Round of Summons
This marks the second time the couple has been summoned in connection with the investigation. Both Vijayabaskar and Ramya had appeared before investigators after the first round of summons in 2024, when their statements were recorded as part of the inquiry into the acquisition of properties and assets allegedly linked to the former minister. The renewed summons signals that investigators are continuing to examine financial transactions and the circumstances surrounding the accumulation of the identified assets.
Background of the Case
The money laundering probe stems from a disproportionate assets case originally registered by the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) in 2021. Based on that predicate offence, the ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), allowing it to investigate possible laundering of proceeds of crime. In May 2023, the DVAC filed its charge sheet alleging that the former minister had amassed assets worth ₹35.79 crore beyond his legitimate sources of income.
The allegations centre on the period between 2016 and 2021, when Vijayabaskar served as Health and Family Welfare Minister in the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government. As part of the investigation, ED officials had earlier conducted searches at his residence in Illuppur, Pudukkottai district, on 21 March 2024.
Vijayabaskar's Current Political Position
Vijayabaskar has since moved away from the AIADMK and now holds the post of Pudukkottai district organisational secretary in the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The fresh ED action brings renewed scrutiny to a figure who has repositioned himself within Tamil Nadu's current ruling political establishment.
What Investigators Are Focusing On
According to ED sources, the latest round of questioning is expected to focus on financial records, asset ownership documentation, and transactions relevant to the allegations. The agency's continued pursuit of the case — now spanning multiple summons cycles and search operations — suggests investigators believe key aspects of the financial trail remain to be fully examined.
The case is being watched closely given Vijayabaskar's organisational role in the TVK, underscoring the political sensitivities surrounding federal agency action in Tamil Nadu.
Point of View
Making federal agency pressure a politically loaded variable in Tamil Nadu. The case highlights a recurring pattern where state-level vigilance findings trigger PMLA proceedings that outlast the political regimes that initiated them. What deserves scrutiny is whether the probe's pace reflects evidentiary momentum or institutional inertia — the original DVAC case dates to 2021, and the ED registered its ECIR on that basis, yet substantive proceedings have stretched across years. As Vijayabaskar consolidates his position in TVK, the investigation's trajectory will test whether accountability mechanisms function independently of shifting political affiliations.
NationPress
3 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the ED summoned C. Vijayabaskar again?
The ED has summoned Vijayabaskar and his wife V. Ramya for a second time as part of its ongoing money laundering investigation into alleged disproportionate assets worth ₹35.79 crore. Investigators are continuing to examine financial records, asset ownership, and transactions linked to the case.
What is the original source of the case against Vijayabaskar?
The case originated from a disproportionate assets complaint registered by the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) in 2021. The DVAC filed its charge sheet in May 2023, alleging Vijayabaskar accumulated ₹35.79 crore beyond his known income while serving as Health Minister between 2016 and 2021.
When did the ED first summon Vijayabaskar?
The first round of ED summons was issued in 2024, following which both Vijayabaskar and his wife appeared before investigators and had their statements recorded. The ED also conducted searches at his Illuppur, Pudukkottai residence on 21 March 2024.
What is Vijayabaskar's current political role?
Vijayabaskar is currently the Pudukkottai district organisational secretary of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), Tamil Nadu's ruling party. He previously served as Health and Family Welfare Minister under the AIADMK government before switching political affiliations.
What law is the ED using to investigate the case?
The ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), using the DVAC's disproportionate assets case as the predicate offence. The PMLA enables the ED to investigate whether the assets in question represent proceeds of crime that were subsequently laundered.
