- 14 minutes ago
A debate on India Today examines the legal and political controversy surrounding corruption probes and raids against Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leaders KN Nehru and Anbil Mahesh. Political analyst Sushil Rajkumar accuses the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government and Chief Minister Vijay of diversionary tactics and political vendetta, arguing that the administration is deflecting attention away from serious law and order failures in the state. Rejecting these charges, TVK national spokesperson Sathya Kumar maintains that investigative agencies and state police are strictly following due process based on orders from the Madras High Court and an Enforcement Directorate dossier. Sathya Kumar asserts that former minister KN Nehru enjoys no special immunity, declaring, 'Even at this minute, he can be arrested.' The panellists debate pending petitions before the Supreme Court, the role of central and state investigating agencies, and mutual allegations regarding political alliances and governance accountability in Tamil Nadu.
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00:00Let me bring in on this broadcast Sushil Rajkumar, political analyst, as well as Mr. Satyakumar, national spokesperson of the
00:06TVK.
00:07Mr. Sushil Rajkumar, I'd like to begin with you, sir, on what really the question is on these incidents where
00:15we've seen the arrest of Anubil Mahesh or for that matter the raid against KNRU.
00:18Because many would say that they had this coming, that these were cases that already existed that now there's an
00:23investigation moving forward on.
00:28Actually, the F.I.R. starts with a letter from the ED which was received by the State Government when
00:33Mr. Stalin was the Chief Minister, dated December 3, 2025, a 258 pages dossier from the Enforcement Directorate.
00:42This F.I.R. was based on that.
00:44Mr. Vijay, when he stood up in the Assembly to reply to the demands on Home Department, in September 7,
00:52he just started reading this dossier.
00:54So, just to wait off all the questions raised by the Opposition Party to divert the issue from the real
01:00issues concerning the state.
01:02Now, the same government under Mr. Vijay is using the same F.I.R. against Mr. Nehru to divert the
01:09real attention, real issues which are seeking attention of the Chief Minister,
01:13who is keeping mom in awe for the past 30 days.
01:17He never opened his mouth to comment or speak anything about any issues concerning the state.
01:21So, this is a vendetta politics played by the TVK.
01:24Nothing more than that.
01:25No, but sir, are you suggesting that these are not serious allegations against Mr. K. Nehru, against Mr. Anvil Mahesh?
01:32If Mr. Vijay is very serious in taking against corruption, he would not have read the 258 pages dossier in
01:41the Assembly.
01:42He just want to politicize the issue so that he can use it in future against the DMK and the
01:48Opposition Parties, which are raising serious complaints against the style of functioning of the Chief Minister.
01:55But at no point are you giving them a clean shit?
01:59No, no, no. That the court will decide. Who am I to decide on that?
02:03So, then there must be an investigation that happens, Mr. Sushil Rajkumar.
02:07Let there be an investigation. I am not against the investigation and the party… nobody will support that… the investigation
02:15should not be there.
02:16Nobody will support that.
02:17But what I am saying is, Mr. Vijay and the TVK government, they just want to politicize the issue and
02:24to get diversion from the real issues concerning the people.
02:28Because the law and daughter problem is taking a beating.
02:31Ten children were gone missing for 30 days.
02:34One girl child, seven years old, she was missing for the past 17 days.
02:39She was not addressed.
02:40These are the real issues concerning the state.
02:42Mr. Vijay is not opening his mouth because during the campaign time, Mr. Vijay himself has said,
02:48all the Kutis have voted for him.
02:50I will take serious view when there is a threat to the safety of women in the state.
02:54But now, he is keeping on all these issues.
02:57So, he just want to politicize the issue to get the diversion which he wants.
03:01That's the thing he is doing.
03:03Mr. Satya Kumar of the TVK is also with us on this broadcast.
03:06Mr. Satya Kumar, you heard Mr. Sushil Rajkumar, even Keir Nehru, just now speaking to the media.
03:12Mr. Satya Kumar said exactly this, that all of these are diversion tactics by the TVK.
03:17Akshita, if you may look at it, this case actually dates back to 20th February, 2026.
03:24Even though the dozier of ED came in the month of December, the Madrasi court has ordered to register an
03:32FIR by doing a preliminary inquiry.
03:35But the Tamil Nadu government did not register an FIR when DMK government was in power.
03:41Subsequently, after the TVK government came in, we registered the FIR on 5th June 2026.
03:48And it is based on the Madrasi court order.
03:51And from then on, we did not arrest Keir Nehru, not because he is a god or he is the
03:57former minister of Tamil Nadu.
03:59But we wanted to follow the due process of law wherein we have tried to provide summons to him and
04:04we have tried to investigate the matter.
04:05And our honourable chief minister of Tamil Nadu Talabadi Vijay has spoken about it in the state assembly.
04:11When Udeni the Stalin asked what are the files, he indicated it.
04:15And accordingly, DVAC case was also registered.
04:17And it is Keir Nehru who took up the matter with the Madrasi court.
04:22He filed a review petition and review petition was dismissed.
04:25And he has also challenged the same in the Supreme Court.
04:27In between the case when it is being heard in the Supreme Court, we have actually ordered for search.
04:34We have not arrested him.
04:35By the way, the state has the power to arrest and there is nothing of political mendata.
04:40Drawing parallels to Anbil Mayesh case, Anbil Mayesh went and filed, anticipated in the Madrasi court.
04:45The Madrasi court dismissed the anticipatory bail.
04:48That is the reason the TVK government or the police department and the TVK government arrested Anbil Mayesh.
04:55It is a misdirection or misguidance provided by DMK advocate to Anbil Mayesh.
05:02Because of which Anbil Mayesh is in prison.
05:05Okay, you have broken down both cases for us.
05:07Mr. Sushil Rajkumar, are you convinced now?
05:10The TVK has spoken about exactly what the cases are against both of them.
05:15No, no, no.
05:17Actually, on October 27th, I think Mr. Gayaneru has filed a SLP in the Supreme Court.
05:22That is pending.
05:23So, they cannot arrest him now.
05:24That is why they are trying to just do politics by sending people from the police to enquire into the
05:31south,
05:31so that they can find something or they can make politics out of it.
05:34Okay, now Mr. Satya Kumar is saying that is not true.
05:37Mr. Satya Kumar?
05:38There is no stay.
05:40There is no stay in the Supreme Court.
05:42I think Sushil Rajkumar is an advocate.
05:43I am not saying there is a stay.
05:45There is a SLP filed by Gayaneru.
05:47I am not saying there is a stay.
05:48There is a SLP filed by Gayaneru.
05:49One second.
05:50If somebody files an SLP, so Sushil, I think you are an advocate.
05:53I do not want to take it personally, but as a law, I will take it up.
05:57If somebody files, because I know that you are supporting DMK, you know the law well.
06:01So, I do not want to personally take up the matter.
06:04But let me put across a simple point.
06:06When an SLP is filed and there is no stay, still Mr. Gayaneru can be arrested.
06:12Gayaneru is cooperative.
06:13Gayaneru is trying to address to the summons, trying to provide.
06:18And by the way, the DED dossier has every detail of the evidence.
06:22So, the evidence is already there with the DGP of Tamil Nadu,
06:26because the dossier was addressed to the DGP of Tamil Nadu.
06:28And according to any time, Gayaneru can be arrested.
06:31Gayaneru has gone to the Supreme Court.
06:32We have filed a caveat petition.
06:34Tamil Nadu government has filed a caveat petition.
06:36Let us wait for the outcome of it.
06:37But if you may ask me whether he can be arrested, answer is yes.
06:41Even at this minute, he can be arrested.
06:44You seem to be leading up Mr. Satya Kumar to the fact that he will be arrested.
06:48Yes, Mr. Sushir Rajkubar.
06:49I am not saying that he cannot be arrested.
06:51He is not arrested.
06:53Let the law enforcement agency take its own course.
06:56I am not saying that.
06:56But the person who your government have arrested two days before,
07:01he was released by the Ambathur court saying that he spoke some bad words about Mr. Vijay,
07:07that he compared Mr. Vijay with the dog.
07:10And the magistrate in the JM court in Ambathur just asked what is the word which is bad about Mr.
07:17Vijay.
07:17It was dog, the council said.
07:20Then what is the wrong in that?
07:21Let him be set free.
07:23He was released.
07:24So this is the way you are conducting the case.
07:26You just want to play politics only.
07:28Sir, but this is not a real case.
07:30Mr. Sushir Rajkubar, this is not a case that has been propped up by the TVK.
07:33It has been going on for some time.
07:35Yeah, it is going on for some time.
07:37But now, Mr. Vijay is doing politics by using this FIR to divert the issues concerning the state and to
07:46get people's attention away from the real issues.
07:49That is the game plan of the TVK and Mr. Vijay.
07:53That is what I am saying.
07:53Mr. Satya Kumar, the allegation is that because of issues concerning law in order that have been brought up against
07:59the TVK,
08:00questions being asked by the opposition of the TVK on that, this particular issue has been taken up to divert
08:06attention.
08:07No, Akshita.
08:08Akshita, in fact, DMK and BJP is an alliance.
08:12It is indicated by a fact that we have registered in FIR, DVSE has registered in FIR.
08:19ED would have very well taken custody.
08:20ED only gave the dossier.
08:22Can I say DMK and BJP are in alliance?
08:24That is the reason BJP led government, the ED has not arrested.
08:28Can I say that way?
08:30Let us pause for a minute and let us understand the due process of law.
08:33K and Nehru can be arrested at any point of time.
08:36It is the liberty of the DVK government under which he is not arrested.
08:39We are not doing any political vendetta.
08:41If Mr. Sushil Rajkumar is challenging that he cannot be arrested, I am saying he can be arrested.
08:48No, sir.
08:49He is conceded on that.
08:50But you are playing politics with that.
08:52Who is playing?
08:53He is playing BJP.
08:54He is playing.
08:55He read dossier was covered by BJP.
08:57BJP led government.
08:58No, no, no.
08:58Your chief minister, instead of answering to the demands for the Home Department, he just started reading
09:06the dossier.
09:07I think he is 20-30 pages.
09:09He read from that only.
09:10And all the opposition parties, they walked out.
09:13That is what they want.
09:14That is what Mr. Vijay wants.
09:15I am asking a simple question.
09:17Sushil, I am asking a simple question.
09:20Please check with your boss, Mr. Stalin.
09:21I am asking a simple question.
09:23Why is ED gave the dossier?
09:26ED insisted for DBAC FIR to be registered.
09:29The matter was also given as a direction by the Madrasai court.
09:34Now, why ED is not taking custody of Mr. K Nehru?
09:37Can I say DMK and BJP are in alliance for the delimitation matter?
09:40Let me ask you one question.
09:43There is a FIR pending against the people who were killed when Karoor, 41 people were killed.
09:49Why there is not a charge sheet for the past one year?
09:55Shall I consider that the TVK and BJP are in secret alliance?
09:59Is that so?
09:59A matter is under the consideration of court.
10:02No, nothing, nothing.
10:04All other cases, you rush to file the charge sheet.
10:06But what happened to the Karoor case?
10:08What happened to the Karoor case?
10:09What happened to the Karoor case?
10:09Okay, so Mr. Sathya Kumar has answered your question, Mr. Sushil.
10:13Now, Mr. Sathya Kumar is asking you a question on delimitation.
10:17About the DMK and BJP being in cahoots.
10:19DMK is an alliance for delimitation.
10:23What's that?
10:23I can't hear you.
10:24That the DMK and BJP are in cahoots, sir, for delimitation.
10:28Delimitation issue is a very serious issue concerning all the states.
10:33So, DMK will take a view which is not affecting the state's autonomy and all that things.
10:40Because DMK is the party which stood for state autonomy.
10:43So, we will not compromise on that.
10:45Let the second draft come.
10:47Let us discuss the draft.
10:48Let us come to a conclusion.
10:49Mr. Sathya Kumar, when you speak of a DMK-BJP alliance that you are suggesting,
10:54you know, these are allegations that have been put forth by central agencies too,
10:58which you say is handled, run by the BJP.
11:02In fact, the moment DMK lost power, BJP seems to have a soft corner for them
11:07because they still hold the MPs until 2029,
11:10which is very much required for the BJP government for many of the bills to be moved.
11:14And accordingly, DMK seems to be the opposition in Tamil Nadu for TVK.
11:19Accordingly, the ED is not arresting Mr. K Nehru.
11:22My question, Akshita, when K Nehru, the evidences are collected by the ED,
11:26and evidences are provided by ED to the DVSE,
11:28DVSE has registered the FIR, ED can take very well the custody.
11:31It's a 1000 crore scam.
11:34And people who have done a scam of 10 crores, 5 crores, 2 crores, 2 lakhs, 3 lakhs are arrested
11:39by the police.
11:40I am asking a simple question.
11:41Is Mr. K Nehru God of Tamil Nadu that he should not be arrested by ED?
11:48Mr. Sushil Rajkumar, if there are serious allegations against the leader,
11:52shouldn't he be raided?
11:54Shouldn't he be investigated?
11:56No, let him be arrested or be investigated.
11:59That is not a problem with the party or…
12:00So, what's the right time, sir, for an investigation?
12:03I don't have any problem with that.
12:04What's the right time?
12:04I just want to ask…
12:06No, I just want to ask Mr. Sathikmar only one question.
12:09Mr. Vijay is the chief minister of this state.
12:11Is he not answerable to the assembly?
12:14Is he not answerable concerning the issues of the Home Department?
12:18Why he started reading this dossier instead of answering all the questions raised by the opposition party?
12:23Because at that time, he wanted to die with the issue.
12:26Now he is doing the same thing.
12:28That is what my allegation is.
12:30What's the right time?
12:33What should be the more concerning issue?
12:35You mean to say Mr. Vijay is a God?
12:37So, you mean to say Mr. Vijay is a God?
12:39He is above law?
12:40I didn't say.
12:41I said…
12:41You are asking me.
12:42You are asking me.
12:43You are asking me.
12:44You are only giving me like that.
12:46Okay, Mr. Sathikmar.
12:48No, no.
12:49Sushil, don't get emotional.
12:51You are answerable to your boss.
12:52Listen, please.
12:53I am not answerable to anybody.
12:55I am not answerable to anybody.
12:57No, no.
12:582,538 government posts have been filled by Mr. K. Nehru by getting a gratification.
13:05That is the allegation.
13:06No, not allegation.
13:07The ED has given a loan course.
13:09Then, okay.
13:10If you say…
13:11There is an allegation only.
13:11There is an allegation only.
13:12It has been proved in the course.
13:15No, listen, Mr. Sathikmar.
13:16Mr. K. Nehru Kumar.
13:17If you say it is an allegation.
13:19The ED has given a transaction details of Havala.
13:21What business Mr. K. Nehru was in?
13:23Was he in other…
13:24What is the conviction rate of ED?
13:25What is the conviction rate of ED?
13:27You tell me.
13:27What is the conviction rate of ED?
13:28Just two percent.
13:29Just two percent.
13:31They have registered almost 40,000 FIS.
13:33How many of the FIS got convicted?
13:38Only two percent.
13:40What I am asking…
13:41Every ED process has a predicate offence.
13:43How many predicate offence has been convicted during the DMK period?
13:49You give me that list.
13:51And if he is the predicate offence, then obviously he will be convicted in ED.
13:54The challenge is…
13:55The challenge Mr. Suchil Rajkumar is one.
13:58What is the right time?
13:59Second, which is the agency that you actually trust then?
14:02Central agencies aren't okay.
14:04State agencies aren't okay.
14:05Who then can conduct a fair investigation as per you?
14:08Did I say anything that the inquiry should not be conducted against Mr. Nehru?
14:11Because sir, you are questioning the timing.
14:14You are saying the ED's conviction rate.
14:16You just want to divert the issue.
14:17Let him file an affair against Nehru and let him put him in jail.
14:20But answer these questions also.
14:23Let Mr. Viji open his mouth and say some consoling words to the person who lost their children.
14:29Because of them only, he has come to power.
14:34Vijay has admitted that.
14:36Okay.
14:36During the ceremony of vote taking, he said that because of the kutis only, I came to power.
14:41Why…
14:42At this time also, why he is keeping silent?
14:45That is my question.
14:46Okay.
14:46Closing comments Mr. Satya Kumar.
14:48Closing comments from you in response to Mr. Rajkumar.
14:51Yes, Akshita.
14:52See, we are following the due process and wherein we have not arrested Mr. Kehny.
14:55In spite of the fact we can be arrested.
14:57In fact, I have a question to my own government.
14:59Why is that he is not arrested?
15:01He has to be arrested.
15:03Because what applies to a common man should apply to a former minister.
15:08Okay.
15:08So, you want your own government to go ahead and arrest him?
15:12What I am saying is Akshita.
15:13What I am saying Akshita.
15:14Why is ED not arresting him?
15:15ED only gave all the information.
15:17I want both ED custody as well as the DBAC custody of this man who has done a scam.
15:23Today morning, a particular economist was arrested without the consent of the government itself.
15:27The police has taken the decision and we can't interfere with the police department every time.
15:31Even the head of the government cannot interfere.
15:33Because certain…
15:34Then it is a failure of Vijay who is heading the whole department.
15:37Then it is a failure of Vijay who is heading the department.
15:39Listen, let me explain, Sushiri.
15:41I, looking at this law, knowing the rule of law, Mr. K. Nehru should be subjected to arrest.
15:48He should not be allowed to speak in the press.
15:49Okay, you know…
15:52Both of you gentlemen are agreeing that K. Nehru should be arrested.
15:56In different circumstances, of course, for different reasons.
15:58But ultimately, let's see how this investigation moves forward.
16:02Politics aside.
16:03Serious allegations that need to be investigated.
16:05Mr. Rajkumar and Mr. Satya Kumar, thank you very much for your time for joining us here on India Today.
16:11Let's see.
16:11These are the location and their name is going to be one of the last few days.
16:11There's a little bit where it is.