Police Charge Ashok Kumar in Alleged ₹35 Crore Bribery of TVK Lawmaker

Chennai, July 2 – Tamil Nadu law enforcement has formally charged Ashok Kumar, brother of former DMK minister V. Senthil Balaji, for allegedly offering a massive bribe to a ruling party legislator. The charge involves a promise of ₹35 crore to N. Ilayaraja of Tamil Ga Vetri Katchi to persuade him to quit his party.

Ilayaraja's complaint details a series of high‑value offers and intimidation aimed at coaxing him to change allegiance. The police response was swift, filing a case under four legal provisions, including the Prevention of Corruption Act.

During the investigation, a co‑accused named Narest revealed that he first met Ashok Kumar in Chennai and was later directed by Kumar and Senthil Balaji to approach the MLA.

Authorities emphasized that the inquiry is proceeding on several fronts and that any further action will be guided by the evidence gathered. In a related development, Chennai police recently arrested five individuals accused of plotting to lure TVK legislators away from the government, a move viewed as an effort to destabilise the current administration.

The development occurs amid ongoing political turbulence following the recent state assembly elections, which left no party with a decisive majority. The DMK has accused the TVK government of fragility, while chief minister MK Stalin has warned that the coalition may not survive the full five‑year term, hinting at the prospect of fresh elections.

The TVK, led by C. Joseph Vijay, captured 108 seats in the election and subsequently formed a government by securing support from the Congress and other allies.