Parties step up attack on Vijay after HC order upholding penalty

Chennai: AIADMK and BJP have stepped up attack on TVK president Vijay after the Madras High Court order upheld the Rs 1.5 crore penalty imposed on him by the Income Tax department for not voluntarily disclosing his additional income in the year 2015 - 16.AIADMK and BJP questioned Vijay's claim of offering a corruption-free governance `when he had violated law by concealing his income.'
"Only now the whistle has started blowing,'' BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran said said implying Vijay would be facing more setbacks in the coming days. ``Soon, there would be drum beats," he said.AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan said that people expect leaders to practise what they preach. ``The high court order exposed Vijay, as it was a clear case of concealing income in violation of the law,'' he said. "Courts had earlier pulled him up in the Rolls-Royce car import case as well, showing a pattern of tax non-compliance. There could be more such issues," he said.Former AIADMK minister Dindigul C Sreenivasan alleged that Vijay's earnings involved unaccounted money. He said AIADMk would `expose' Vijay by highlighting the issue during the poll campaign. DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai posted on X, questioning how someone penalised for hiding income could speak about clean governance. ``Vijay should seek a public apology. Stop running from tax authorities,'' he said calling Vijay a `serial tax offender.' However, TN Congress leaders chose not to critcise Vijay. While TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai declined to comment on the issue, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram, said income-tax disputes were legal matters and cannot be considered corruption."This is a tax matter and cannot be termed corruption. Corruption is when someone misuses their position in govt to enrich themselves," Chidambaram told reporters in Sivaganga. He added that income-tax demands arise from an assessing officer's interpretation and that taxpayers have the right to challenge such demands through appeals, including before higher courts.Responding to the criticism, TVK general secretary (propaganda) K G Arun Raj questioned the AIADMK's moral authority to speak on corruption. He said Vijay sought exemptions permitted under law and that an earlier appeal before the Income Tax commissionerate went in his favour."Now the High Court passed an order. We will file an appeal after consulting our legal team," Arun Raj said.