Triplicane Police Summon V Senthilbalaji in TVK MLA Poaching Case

The Triplicane police on Saturday issued summons to former DMK minister V Senthilbalaji and his brother, R V Ashok Kumar, directing them to appear for an inquiry in Triplicane on Monday, July 6. The investigation concerns an alleged attempt to bribe and poach TVK MLA N Elaiyaraja, who represents the Uthangarai assembly constituency.

A Triplicane police team led by Sub-Inspector Srinivasan traveled to Karur to deliver the summons. Upon failing to locate Senthilbalaji, the Coimbatore South MLA, and his brother at their family residence in Rameshwarapatti, the officers handed the documents over to their parents. Sub-Inspector Srinivasan explained the contents of the summons to Senthilbalaji’s father and obtained his formal acknowledgement. Lawyers representing the DMK political party were also present at the residence during the interaction.

The summons direct both Senthilbalaji and Ashok Kumar to present themselves before the Triplicane police at noon on Monday. This police inquiry is based on a formal complaint lodged by Elaiyaraja on June 29.

In connection with the ongoing poaching case, the police have already arrested eight individuals. Among those taken into custody are Ramesh and Karthik, who run a popular restaurant in Karur, alongside Thirunavukkarasu of Arumbakkam, Naresh of Trichy, Thiagarajan of Medavakkam, Selvan of Pallikaranai, Srinivasan of Manapakkam, and Rajesh of Hastinapuram.

Anticipating a potential arrest by the police, Ashok Kumar filed a petition in the Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail. The High Court adjourned the hearing on the matter on Friday, scheduling it to continue on Monday.

Meanwhile, the DMK has alleged that the TVK government is planning to arrest Senthilbalaji prior to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s scheduled visit to Karur on July 10.