Project Meghalaya: Chennai Police Probe Alleged Rs 35-Crore Plot To Topple TVK Government
Project Meghalaya: Chennai Police Probe Alleged Rs 35-Crore Plot To Topple TVK Government Published By, Last Updated: July 17, 2026, 08:02 IST The alleged conspiracy
Project Meghalaya: Chennai Police Probe Alleged Rs 35-Crore Plot To Topple TVK Government Published By, Last Updated: July 17, 2026, 08:02 IST The alleged conspiracy, dubbed 'Project Meghalaya', is being investigated over claims that TVK MLAs were offered financial inducements to destabilise the Vijay government. Rapid Read The TVK MLA alleged that he was offered Rs 35 crore to vote in a particular manner during the proposed motion. Chennai Police have questioned a senior television journalist and seized his mobile phone as part of an investigation into an alleged conspiracy to bribe Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) MLAs and destabilise the government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. Vijayan, a journalist with regional news channel Puthiya Thalaimurai, was questioned on July 15 and 16 after investigators found alleged communication between him and Thirunavukkarasu, the principal accused in the case, police said. His mobile phone has been seized for forensic examination. Investigators are examining the exchanges to determine whether they have any connection with the wider alleged conspiracy, referred to as “Project Meghalaya". The case stems from a complaint filed by TVK’s Uthangarai MLA N Elaiyaraja, who alleged that Thirunavukkarasu and others offered him Rs 35 crore to vote against the party’s position during Assembly proceedings.
Elaiyaraja also alleged that he and his family were threatened after he turned down the offer. According to police, the alleged plan involved approaching around 15 TVK MLAs with financial inducements and persuading them to vote against the party whip in an attempt to destabilise the Vijay-led government. Thirunavukkarasu, a YouTuber who runs the opinion polling group IPDS, has been identified as the main accused. Nine people have been arrested so far in connection with the alleged bribery attempt, according to NDTV. DMK minister Senthil Balaji and his brother Ashok have also been summoned for questioning. Journalist’s Questioning Draws Criticism The questioning of Vijayan and the seizure of his phone have drawn criticism from DMK MP Kanimozhi and the Chennai Press Club. Kanimozhi accused the TVK government of using the investigation to target journalists and political opponents. “The act of the TVK government’s police force, which, under the guise of an investigation, has arbitrarily seized journalist Vijayan’s mobile phone and detained him at the police station, is strongly condemnable," she said in a post on X. She described the action as an attack on press freedom, demanded Vijayan’s immediate release and urged the government not to use investigative agencies to intimidate journalists.
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