Political Storm: Senthilbalaji's Brother Seeks Bail in ₹35 Cr Bribery Case
Political Storm: Senthilbalaji's Brother Seeks Bail in ₹35 Cr Bribery Case
R.V. Ashok Kumar, brother of former DMK Minister Senthilbalaji, moves Madras High Court for anticipatory bail in a sensational ₹35 crore bribery case involving TVK MLA N. Elaiyaraja. Claims political motive. Get the full
A significant political development is unfolding in Tamil Nadu as R.V. Ashok Kumar, brother of former Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Minister V. Senthilbalaji, has sought anticipatory bail from the Madras High Court. This comes after he was named in a case alleging an attempt to bribe Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) N. Elaiyaraja, who represents the Uthangarai constituency, with a staggering ₹35 crore.
The advance bail plea has been scheduled for hearing before Justice C. Kumarappan on Friday, July 3, 2026. Ashok Kumar, 47, claims to have no connection whatsoever with the case, asserting that he has been falsely implicated due to political motives.
The bribery allegations originated from a complaint lodged by MLA N. Elaiyaraja with the Triplicane police in Chennai on June 29, 2026. According to the MLA's statement, he received a phone call on June 26, 2026, from an individual identifying himself as Thirunavukarasu. The caller, claiming to be from a private entity named Indian Political Democratic Strategies (IPDS), which conducts political surveys, insisted on a personal meeting to discuss an “irresistible offer from an important party.”
Despite the MLA's initial refusal to meet in person and his request to discuss the matter over the phone, the caller persistently pressed for a face-to-face meeting. This led the MLA to end the call. Subsequently, he received multiple calls via WhatsApp from the same number, which he chose not to answer. When he eventually picked up one of these persistent calls, the caller reportedly stated that “the TVK-led government would not last long.” The caller also allegedly detailed a plan to move a resolution against Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar, promising the MLA ₹35 crore if he agreed to vote against the Speaker.
The Triplicane police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Ashok Kumar and three other individuals on June 30, 2026. In connection with this high-profile case, police have already arrested five more individuals, bringing the total number of arrests to eight. Authorities are also reportedly investigating the alleged involvement of former Minister Senthilbalaji in the matter, adding another layer of intrigue to this rapidly developing political scandal.
