Immigration authorities in Tamil Nadu have detained several foreign nationals, including Sri Lankan citizens
May 15, 2026: A major controversy has emerged following the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026 after immigration authorities detained multiple foreign nationals for allegedly participating in the polls despite carrying non-Indian passports. Officials said several individuals were intercepted at airports in Tamil Nadu after immigration personnel noticed indelible ink marks on their fingers during routine checks.
According to officials, at least ten people, including four women, were detained at Chennai International Airport alone. Among those identified were several reportedly holding Sri Lanka passports, while others were said to possess passports from the United Kingdom, Indonesia and Canada. Authorities said the passengers came under suspicion after officials observed election ink marks commonly applied to voters during polling.
Investigators later allegedly discovered that some of the detained individuals possessed both foreign passports and Indian voter identity cards issued by the Election Commission of India. Officials described the combination as unlawful under Indian regulations and launched a probe into how the voter IDs were obtained and whether the individuals had cast votes in the elections. Legal action has reportedly been initiated under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023 and other applicable laws.
Authorities said intelligence agencies had alerted immigration officials that certain foreign nationals who allegedly voted fraudulently might attempt to leave India after polling concluded. Following the alerts, airports including Madurai Airport and Chennai airport intensified monitoring of outbound passengers, leading to the detentions. Officials are now examining whether the voter identity cards were obtained through organised networks or administrative loopholes. The development comes shortly after the formation of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.