PIL in Madras High Court Seeks CBI Probe into ₹35 Crore Bribe Offer to TVK MLA
A public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed in the Madras High Court has sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into an alleged bribe offer of ₹35 crore to a TVK MLA, as well as other complaints of horse trading. The petition is scheduled for hearing before the first Division Bench of Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan on Thursday, July 16, 2026.
The petitioner, Advocate J. Balasubramani of Tiruppur, stated that he is not affiliated with any political party and is only interested in ensuring a fair and impartial investigation. The plea brings to the court's attention that TVK MLA N. Elayaraja, representing the Uthangarai constituency, had lodged a complaint with the Greater Chennai Police on June 29, 2026, accusing four individuals of offering him a bribe of ₹35 crore to vote in favour of a proposed resolution against Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar. Based on this, the Triplicane police registered a First Information Report (FIR) on June 30, 2026, and began a probe.
The PIL petitioner raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding the complaint and FIR registration. He noted that the MLA allegedly received a threatening phone call from one of the accused on June 26, 2026, but the complaint was filed only three days later. The petitioner argued that the delay, along with the fact that the FIR was registered at the instance of an Additional Commissioner of Police, raises reasonable suspicion that the FIR may have been “orchestrated” or influenced by political considerations.
Furthermore, the petitioner contended that the FIR should have been registered at the Uthangarai police station in Krishnagiri district, which has territorial jurisdiction over the constituency, rather than at the Triplicane police station in Chennai, hundreds of kilometres away. The petitioner's affidavit stated: “The deliberate bypassing of the jurisdictionally proximate police station at Uthangarai, and the registration of the FIR at D1 Triplicane Police Station, hundreds of kilometres away, is a clear instance of forum selection driven not by legal jurisdiction but by political convenience and proximity to the seats of power.”
The petition also highlighted a series of recent resignations by MLAs who were elected on AIADMK tickets, as well as complaints from some DMK MLAs that they were offered money to resign. The petitioner argued that these incidents reinforce the need for a central agency investigation into the alleged horse trading by the ruling party to remain in power. He requested that the case be transferred from the Triplicane police to the CBI for a fresh and comprehensive investigation, covering not only the TVK MLA's complaint but also all other related complaints.
The Madras High Court will examine the PIL on Thursday, and the outcome could have significant implications for political accountability and the integrity of the legislative process in Tamil Nadu.
