Discrepancy of more than Rs 100 crores in Vijay’s poll affidavits: Madras HC orders notice to IT Dept and ECI

Observing as an irregularity the discrepancy of more than Rs 100 crore in one of his two election affidavits, filed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president, contesting from two constituencies, Madras High Court on Monday ordered notices to the actor, the Income Tax Department and the Election Commission of India (ECI).

“This is an irregularity, more than Rs 100 crores has not been disclosed in one constituency,” the First Bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan, orally observed while ordering notice on a petition filed by one Vignesh of Chennai. The bench ordered issuance notices to the actor-turned politician, Director General of Income Tax (Investigation), ECI and the Returning Officers of Perambur and Trichy (East) constituencies. There is some irregularity on the part of Vijay, the Court further observed and posted the matter to next week.

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Making his electoral debut in this 2026 assembly election, Vijay is contesting from Perambur in Chennai and Trichy (East). The fledgling TVK he had launched in 2024 is also entering the fray for the first time in all the 234 constituencies. Campaigning for this election is coming to a close on Tuesday and polling is slated for April 23. Initially, when the discrepancies in his papers came out into the open, Vijay filed a fresh set of papers for Perambur to avoid disqualification during scrutiny. Later, his nomination for both the seats were accepted.

The petitioner submitted that there are serious and multiple layers of inconsistencies in the affidavits which Vijay had filed in his nomination papers, which warrant an investigation by the DG IT (Investigation). He also prayed for an expeditious disposal of the case before the date of polling, so that the electorate could make an informed choice.

According to the petitioner, Vijay had disclosed assets of Rs 115,13,63,000 before the Returning Officer of Perambur, had shown assets for Rs 220,15,62,010 before the Returning Officer of Trichy (East). It was contended that the disappearance of a high value asset constituted a classic case suppression of assets, raising questions over beneficial ownership, routing of funds and concealment of information. Further, it was further argued that the discrepancies in the affidavits could not be ignored as clerical errors and the reasonable inference is that either one of the affidavits is false or the corporate filings are incorrect, which requires a thorough probe.

Similar petitions on discrepancies in the nomination papers of TVK general secretary Aadhav Arjuna, contesting from Villivakkam and BJP leader Dr Tamilisai Soundarrajan, in the fray from Maylapore, both constituencies in Chennai, have been filed before the High Court.