The Madras High Court, on Tuesday (August 18), rejected an election petition filed by a voter of Uthangarai Legislative Assembly constituency, challenging the victory of N Elaiyaraja, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazham (TVK) party candidate.

Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy allowed an application filed by the winning MLA seeking to reject the election petition and thus dismissed the plea.

The judge also made it clear that he intended to decide all the election petitions pending before him within the 6-month time period provided under the Representation of People Act, and not to keep it pending for long.

Detailed order copy is awaited.

It may also be noted that MLA Elaiyaraja had recently alleged that he was approached by persons who offered to pay him Rs 30 Crore if he voted against the Speaker in a proposed no-confidence motion.

On June 26, Elaiyaraja had given a complaint in the Triplicane Police Station alleging that he was contacted over the phone by a person named Thirunavukkarassu who informed Elaiyaraja that a major political party would be moving a resolution against the Speaker in the Assembly and urged Elaiyaraja to vote in their favour. It was submitted that Elaiyaraja was offered Rs 35 Crore for the same, and he was threatened with dire consequences if he did not act in the particular manner.

On July 1, three persons were arrested by the police in connection with the case. The police later said that, as per the investigation, Elaiyaraja was contacted at the behest of Senthil Balaji and his brother Ashok Kumar. The High Court had given anticipatory bail to Senthil Balaji and his brother. Earlier this month, the High Court also stayed the investigation and sought a response on a plea by one of the accused seeking to transfer the case to the CB -CID.

Case Title: C Geetha v Dr N Elaiyaraja and Others

Case No: ELP 45 of 2026