Chennai, Sep 7 (IANS) The Madras High Court on Monday directed the police in Tamil Nadu’s Pudukottai to report by September 15 on the progress of a preliminary inquiry into a cheating complaint against former Minister C. Vijayabaskar, who has since joined the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
The case arose from a petition filed by Dhana Vimal, the AIADMK candidate for the Alangudi Assembly constituency, seeking an order directing the police to register a First Information Report.
Vimal has accused Vijayabaskar of failing to return Rs 4 crore from money allegedly collected from him before the election.
When the petition came up for hearing, Additional Public Prosecutor Arun Anbumani told Justice V. Lakshminarayanan that the Illuppur police had begun a preliminary inquiry.
The court was told that Vimal had been summoned to appear on August 28 but had requested time until September 10.
Recording the submission, the judge asked the police to file a progress report by September 15.
According to the complaint, Vimal approached the AIADMK leadership seeking the party ticket for Alangudi.
He alleged that Vijayabaskar, the then TVK’s Pudukottai district secretary, telephoned him on November 11, 2025, and asked him to arrange Rs 5 crore as proof that he had the financial capacity to meet campaign expenses.
Vimal claimed he was assured that the amount would be returned immediately after his candidature was announced. He subsequently mobilised Rs 4.5 crore from several sources and allegedly handed it to contractor Sothupalai Murugesan at the latter’s Pudukottai office on March 11, 2026.
After Vimal was named the AIADMK candidate, only Rs 50 lakh was returned, the petition said.
Despite repeated demands, the remaining Rs 4 crore was allegedly withheld.
Vimal also claimed that another Rs 10 lakh promised in connection with the mortgage of his father’s immovable property to a person associated with Vijayabaskar was not paid.
The petitioner said he met Vijayabaskar 14 times to seek repayment and the return of documents, without success.
He also alleged that Vijayabaskar later adopted an intimidating approach and used his political influence when the money was demanded.
The allegations have not yet been established, and the police inquiry remains at a preliminary stage.
The High Court has not directed registration of an FIR at this point and will review the police report at the next hearing in the matter.
–IANS
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