Barely weeks after coming to power on promises of clean governance and a break from the political culture of the past, Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is already facing mounting embarrassment over a series of controversies involving its functionaries and supporters.
From allegations of sexual offences and crimes against women to cases involving violence, murder accusations, extortion complaints, and other criminal charges, several individuals associated with the party have found themselves at the centre of police investigations and public outrage.
While TVK leaders have repeatedly maintained that the actions of individual members should not be used to judge the party as a whole, critics argue that the growing list of controversies raises serious questions about the kind of people finding space within the organisation.
In this report we will take a look at the crimes committed by members of the TVK in Tamil Nadu since the party took over power.
12 May 2026: Pudukkottai District Crime Branch arrested TVK Central District Executive Committee member Saravanan for allegedly defrauding over 100 people of ₹20–25 crore by promising high returns and citing fake medical emergencies. Victims, including party workers, realized the scale of the fraud only recently. Saravanan was traced and arrested out of state. Following the arrest, over 100 agitated victims gathered at the SP’s office, demanding he be handed over to them.
21 May 2026: Duraippandi, a resident of Pudukkottai, was arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for sexually harassing an eight-year-old girl.
23 May 2026: Kannan, a resident of the Keelamathur area and an administrator of the TVK, was arrested for sexually harassing a 10th-grade student.
24 May 2026: Muthumani, from the Paravai Power House area, was arrested for sexually harassing a 12th-grade student and committing various sexual offenses against her. Reports indicate that the victim is now seven months pregnant.
30 May 2026: A 76-year-old woman, Muthammal, was killed near Chengalpattu, with her body exhumed after sons suspected foul play over missing gold jewellery. Initially thought to have died from a fall, the post-mortem confirmed she was pushed. Police arrested Vasudevan, a local functionary of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), who lived opposite her home in Keelamur village. He was charged with murder and theft.
2 June 2026: A Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) functionary stabbed a government bus driver in Madurai district. The driver, Prasad, had asked Dhanushkodi, 45, to move his car blocking the road near Karuppatti on 2 June 2026. An argument escalated, and Dhanushkodi allegedly attacked Prasad with a knife, leaving him unconscious. The driver was hospitalized. The attack triggered protests by over 300 transport workers, halting 55 buses. Following a manhunt, police arrested the absconding TVK functionary on 12 June 2026.
#JustNow | மதுரை: அரசு பேருந்து ஒட்டுநரை பட்டா கத்தியால் வெட்டிய தவெக நிர்வாகி கைது#SunNews | #TVK | #TVKVijay | #Crime | #சட்டம்ஒழுங்கு pic.twitter.com/ea7jkSbnBv
— Sun News (@sunnewstamil) June 12, 2026
2 June 2026: Two TVK functionaries, Balamurugan, the Thoothukudi West District TVK Youth Group organizer, and Jayapal, the Ramanathapuram District TVK administrator were arrested for their alleged involvement in a gang rape near Thoothukudi. According to police, the victim was lured into a car under the pretext of a job, given a soft drink laced with a sedative, and then assaulted after being drugged in cold air; the Srivaikuntam All-Women Police Station registered a complaint from the victim, conducted an investigation, and arrested the two men based on evidence.
3 June 2026: Police arrested Raja, the Eral Town Secretary of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), and his wife Pon Deivam for an alleged ₹72 lakh land fraud in Thoothukudi district. Raja reportedly borrowed the amount from Babu to clear a bank loan on his mortgaged property, promising to sell the land. Later, he allegedly refused to return the money or transfer ownership. Following Babu’s complaint, the District Crime Branch investigated and arrested the couple.
3 June 2026: In Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s (TVK) first major scandal since coming to power, two functionaries Balamurugan (Thoothukudi West District youth wing organizer) and Jayapal (Ramanathapuram district administrator) were arrested for allegedly gang-raping a woman after drugging her under pretext of a job. The victim has now directly accused Srivaikuntam MLA Annai VG Saravanan of being the root cause, alleging he sheltered the accused, runs illegal lotteries, and tried to suppress the matter. She demanded Chief Minister Vijay act like his “Theri” film persona. No party response has come to this day.
3 June 2026: In Chennai’s Chettimedu area, a tea shop employee named Salman was allegedly assaulted by a group claiming to be Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) functionaries. The attackers, reportedly supporters of Madhavaram MLA Vijay Prabhu, demanded tea and cigarettes, then dragged the employee out and beat him when he couldn’t serve immediately. CCTV footage of the incident surfaced on social media. Police registered an FIR following Salman’s complaint, but no arrests were announced yet. Investigations are ongoing.
8 June 2026: Railway police in Tiruchirappalli arrested two men, including a TVK functionary, for stealing a laptop at the junction. The accused were identified as Baranidharan (Manikandam Union Executive Committee member of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam) and Rohan Dev. The laptop belonged to Miphthin from Kanyakumari district. Following a complaint, police recovered the stolen item. Both suspects already face multiple criminal cases.
9 June 2026: Six men, including TVK functionary Boopathi Raja, were arrested near Sankagiri in Salem district for alleged ganja smuggling. Police seized 12.5 kg of ganja and three two-wheelers during a vehicle check. All six were produced before the Sankagiri Judicial Magistrate and remanded to Salem Central Prison.
12 June 2026: TVK expelled its Alandur North Area Secretary, Vembuli, from all party positions and primary membership following allegations of repeatedly sexually assaulting a widow in Parangimalai, Chennai. A police complaint was filed, and an investigation is underway. Chennai Suburbs District Secretary and MLA Saravanan announced the expulsion, stating Vembuli acted against party discipline and tarnished its reputation. The party clarified he has no further association with TVK and warned cadres against contacting him.
These incidents have occurred just one month of the party being in power. The arrests of multiple party functionaries in cases ranging from sexual offences, gang rape allegations, and POCSO charges to murder, fraud, assault, theft, and drug smuggling have raised uncomfortable questions about the party’s internal culture and vetting processes. While TVK has distanced itself from some of the accused, the frequency and severity of these cases risk undermining Vijay’s promise of a new political culture, exposing the gap between campaign rhetoric and political reality.
Subscribe to our channels on WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and YouTube to get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
