In a significant legal blow to actor Vijay, the Madras High Court has upheld a Rs 1.5 crore tax penalty imposed by the Income Tax Department and dismissed his appeal challenging the levy. The penalty is linked to the alleged non-disclosure of additional income derived from the 2015 film Puli. According to the Income Tax Department, during tax searches conducted in 2015, it was revealed that of Vijay’s total remuneration of around Rs 15 crore, nearly Rs 5 crore was paid in cash and not disclosed in his original tax returns.

This led to the department imposing a penalty for non-disclosure of income. Vijay, who is also the leader of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), approached the Madras High Court to challenge the order, arguing that the penalty was invalid due to the delay in initiating the proceedings. However, the court dismissed his plea, asserting that the delay was due to appellate proceedings and that the penalty was imposed correctly as per the provisions of the Income Tax Act.

The court’s verdict has arrived at a politically sensitive time, as Vijay is preparing for his political debut, with claims of leading a movement for clean governance and the eradication of corruption. While Vijay’s party, TVK, has yet to formally respond to the ruling, sources within the party mentioned that they plan to challenge the decision further. The ruling, however, has drawn sharp criticism from political rivals, with some questioning Vijay’s integrity, given the tax-related issues. As Vijay contemplates his future political ambitions, the verdict adds to the scrutiny surrounding his leadership and public image, especially as he positions himself as an anti-corruption advocate while still grappling with past financial controversies.