ChennaiJuly 17, 2025 12:54 IST
first published: July 17, 2025 12:27 IST
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The CB-CID of Tamil Nadu has revived a high-profile cash-for-votes case which includes the state BJP president and Tirunelveli MLA Nanner Nagendran. Citing the money trail and citing data records, the agency has formally recorded an alleged link between top BJP leaders and seizure in April 2024, allegedly worth Rs 3.98 crore to bribe voters.
Once the case rejected by the BJP leadership as “dead”, the case has achieved new traction with the arrest of a prominent accused, which police said that Nagendran accepted to convert gold into cash – Nagendran tightly to investigate around the internal circle of Nagendran. The deep scam has expressed apprehension in the BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit that Nagendran may face arrest before next year’s assembly elections.
According to court documents, investigators arrested a person named Sorag on June 30 to exchange Rs 97.92 lakh after selling 1.5 kg of gold bar. The CB-CID told the Principal Sessions Court in Chennai that Vignesh, the driver of BJP’s industrial wing president Govardhan, had allegedly approached Sorag for the convenience of transaction. The agency alleged that the call record analysis confirmed the participation of Govardhan, BJP treasurer SR Sekhar and State General Secretary (Organization) Kesav Vinayakan in distribution attempt.
The police suspected that the money was intended to make the money for voters in Tirunelveli in support of Nagendran, who contested and lost the parliamentary seat in 2024. The court granted bail on July 10, in view of that Section 171 (C), 171 (E), 171 (E), and 188, and 188 are granted bail.
The case took place on April 6, 2024, when a flying squad of the Election Commission and Taramaram police seized Rs 3.98 crore in 500 rupee notes from three people in Nelli Express. Trikdi – S Satish, S. Perumal, and S Naveen – claimed that the cash was to be distributed to the voters on Nagendran’s instructions. Satish, who was allegedly known as the manager of the Chennai Hotel owned by Nagendran, was in possession of the BJP leader’s identity card and other documents, according to the officials.
Although the case was initially handled by the Taramaram police, it was transferred to the metro wing of CB-CID in April. Since then, the agency has called several BJP leaders including Nagendran for questioning. While Nagendran has denied any relationship with the seized cash, the CB-CID investigators have ensured that the money trail and testimony point to a coordinated effort associated with the top state BJP leaders.
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