Vijay, TVK Leaders Booked By Chennai Police For Unauthorised Roadshow

In a significant legal turn just days before the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the Chennai Police on Thursday registered a case against Vijay, the chief of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), and other senior party leaders. The move comes following a massive roadshow held on Wednesday that allegedly bypassed official regulations.

Unauthorized Roadshow Leads to Legal Action

According to reports, the Mambalam police filed the case on April 16 based on a formal complaint from an Election Commission (EC) flying squad official. The police had reportedly granted permission for a static event in a specific area, but the actor-turned-politician allegedly transformed it into a mobile roadshow across several high-traffic constituencies.

• Key Areas Affected: T Nagar, Thousand Lights, and Egmore.
• Charges Filed: The FIR includes sections under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to disobedience to an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant.
• Leaders Named: Along with Vijay, the police booked TVK General Secretary and T Nagar candidate N. Anand (Bussy Anand) and South Chennai district secretary Appunu.

Massive Crowd and Political Stir

The roadshow saw thousands of supporters thronging the streets of South Chennai to catch a glimpse of the actor. Riding in an open vehicle, Vijay was seen waving to crowds and accepting gifts, including a bat labeled “Congratulations, CM brother.” Candidates JCD Prabhakar (Thousand Lights) and Raj Mohan (Egmore) also joined the procession as it moved through their respective segments.

While the show of strength has boosted TVK’s visibility, the resulting traffic gridlock in central Chennai prompted the EC’s intervention. As of now, neither Vijay nor the TVK leadership has issued an official response to the FIR.

High Stakes for TVK in 2026

This legal hurdle arrives at a critical juncture for Vijay, who officially launched TVK in February 2024. Having transitioned from a record-breaking cinema career to full-time politics, the April 23 elections serve as the ultimate litmus test for his leadership.

The party has already faced a turbulent month; while campaigning, Vijay’s final film, Jana Nayagan (directed by H. Vinoth), suffered a major setback when an HD print was leaked online on April 9 following a delay in its theatrical release. With the state going to the polls in just one week, all eyes are on how this police case will impact TVK’s momentum at the ballot box.