A high-stakes political finance dispute reached the Madras High Court on Monday, September 7, 2026, as Tamil Nadu police confirmed an ongoing preliminary inquiry into allegations that former state minister C. Vijayabaskar failed to return ₹4 crore collected from an election ticket aspirant.
Financial Claims and Transaction Breakdown
The petitioner, Dhana Vimal, who contested as the AIADMK candidate for the Alangudi Assembly constituency, moved a criminal writ petition seeking a formal court directive for police to register a First Information Report (FIR). According to Vimal's petition, Vijayabaskar—who served as AIADMK Pudukottai district secretary before later joining the TVK—demanded proof of financial capacity to handle poll expenditures in late 2025.
| Date / Phase | Event / Disclosed Action | Financial Value |
|---|---|---|
| November 11, 2025 | Candidate allegedly asked by Vijayabaskar to arrange funds to prove election readiness | ₹5.00 Crore |
| March 11, 2026 | Sum delivered to contractor Sothupalai Murugesan at Pudukottai office | ₹4.50 Crore |
| Post-Nomination | Partial repayment made after candidacy announcement | ₹50 Lakh |
| Property Dispute | Additional sum claimed from mortgaged immovable property | ₹10 Lakh |
| Outstanding Claim | Total amount alleged to be withheld from the complainant | ₹4.10 Crore |
Legal Action and Court Directive
Justice V. Lakshminarayanan took note of submissions placed by Additional Public Prosecutor Arun Anbumani, who appeared for the state. The Illuppur police in Pudukottai district had summoned Vimal for a preliminary inquiry on August 28, 2026, but the complainant requested an extension until September 10, 2026, to appear before the investigating authorities.
Intimidation Allegation: In his court affidavit, Vimal asserted that he attempted to recover the funds across 14 separate meetings with Vijayabaskar without success, alleging that the former minister turned to intimidation after defecting to the ruling party.
Investigation Timeline
Recording the submissions, the Madras High Court instructed law enforcement authorities to submit an updated progress report on the inquiry by September 15, 2026. The outcome will decide whether the preliminary police inquiry formally converts into an FIR against the former minister.
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