Madras High Court Stays Charges Against TN BJP Leaders in Rs 4 Crore Case

The Madras High Court on Tuesday issued a stay on the framing of charges against Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran and other party leaders in connection with a Rs 4 crore cash seizure case dating back to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The relief from the high court comes just ahead of scheduled proceedings at a metropolitan magistrate court located in the George Town court complex, which was set to frame charges against the accused on August 12.

The legal matter relates to an operation conducted while the Model Code of Conduct was enforced across the state for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. During that period, law enforcement officials intercepted and seized about Rs 4 crore in cash from aboard the Nellai Express train while it was stationed at the Tambaram railway station.

According to the prosecution, the seized cash was allegedly being transported to be distributed among voters in the Tirunelveli parliamentary constituency. Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran was contesting as the party's candidate from the Tirunelveli seat during the election.

The CB-CID police took up the investigation and subsequently registered a criminal case naming 13 individuals as accused. Key figures named in the matter alongside Nainar Nagendran include Kesava Vinayagam, the former Tamil Nadu BJP organisational general secretary, and S R Sekar, the state treasurer of the BJP.

Following the completion of its probe, the CB-CID submitted a formal chargesheet against all 13 accused persons before a metropolitan court in Chennai. Official copies of the chargesheet were also distributed to all the individuals named in the filing.

The matter reached the high court after BJP state treasurer S R Sekar filed a legal petition challenging the proceedings. Sekar petitioned the Madras High Court seeking to quash the case filed against him and prayed for a stay on the lower court trial pending the final outcome and disposal of his petition. Responding to the plea, the high court stayed the scheduled framing of charges.