Police charge Ashok Kumar in Rs 35 crore bribe case

Police in Chennai have registered a case against Ashok Kumar, the brother of former DMK minister V. Senthil Balaji, following allegations of an attempt to bribe a ruling party legislator with Rs 35 crore. The case, filed on July 2, 2026, emerges from a complaint lodged by Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) MLA N. Elaiyaraja on June 29, which led to the arrest of three men earlier this week.

Elaiyaraja alleged that a man named Thirunavukkarasu contacted him claiming to represent an opinion polling firm called Indian Political Democratic Strategies (IPDS) and acting on behalf of a major political party. The caller stated a no-confidence motion was being planned against Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar and offered up to Rs 35 crore for Elaiyaraja to vote in a specified manner against the ruling party. After the MLA refused, Thirunavukkarasu allegedly threatened him and his family if he disclosed the conversation.

Based on the complaint, the Triplicane police arrested Thirunavukkarasu, Naresh, and Thiagarajan. During interrogation, investigators claim Naresh disclosed that he had met Ashok Kumar in Chennai before approaching Elaiyaraja and that he acted on instructions from Ashok Kumar...