BJP Targets Tamil Nadu CM Vijay After Alleged Rs 22.10 Crore Government Fund Fraud

The BJP has launched a fresh attack on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay following reports that Rs 22.10 crore was allegedly siphoned from three state government bank accounts in a suspected cyber fraud.

The party's Tamil Nadu State Secretary, Vinoj P Selvam, criticised the administration over the reported incident and demanded an explanation from the Chief Minister.

Taking to X on Tuesday, Selvam wrote: "Where is CM Vijay when the people of Tamil Nadu demand answers?"

The allegations follow a report published by Tamil newspaper Dinamalar on Monday, November 9, which stated that funds had been illegally transferred from three accounts belonging to the state's Rural Development Department.

BJP Questions Vijay Government Over Rs 22.10 Crore Cyber Fraud

According to the Dinamalar report, the alleged fraud involved Rs 14 crore from Mandapam Panchayat Union in Ramanathapuram district, Rs 3.10 crore from Nagapattinam district and Rs 5 crore from Dharapuram Panchayat Union in Tiruppur district.

The money was reportedly allocated for the construction of rural health and wellness centres under the 15th Finance Commission grants.

Selvam accused the TVK government of failing to maintain adequate financial safeguards, questioning how cybercriminals could allegedly access multiple government accounts and transfer such substantial sums without triggering security alerts.

"How did cybercriminals allegedly penetrate government payment systems? How were transactions worth crores executed? Where were the security checks, financial controls and monitoring mechanisms?" he questioned.

The BJP leader also criticised Vijay's extensive social media following, drawing a comparison between running an online fan network and administering a state.

"An actor's fan club and its social media army have gone from trending hashtags to running a state government," Selvam said, adding that managing a state and "managing hashtags" were two "very different things".

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Trump Questions Honesty Of US Midterm Elections After Major Republican Defeats

He further alleged that the incident highlighted concerns about administrative oversight, accountability and the government's preparedness.

"This incident raises yet another set of serious questions about the Vijay-led TVK government's administrative oversight, accountability and preparedness," Selvam alleged.

He also stressed that the money involved was intended for public welfare programmes.

"These are funds meant for rural development, essential services and public welfare. Money entrusted to the government for the benefit of ordinary citizens".

Concluding his post, the BJP secretary demanded greater transparency and stronger financial safeguards from the state administration.

"Tamil Nadu needs transparent answers, stronger institutions and a government that can demonstrate its ability to safeguard public funds."

Reports Differ Over Third Tamil Nadu Government Account Targeted

The alleged cyber fraud has also attracted attention because of differing details in reports published by Tamil media outlets.

While Dinamalar identified the third affected account as belonging to Dharapuram Panchayat Union in Tiruppur district, a separate report by The Indian Express Tamil on Tuesday, November 10, identified Tambaram, a major city in Chengalpattu district, as the location of the third account.

Both reports referred to the alleged involvement of a Nigerian cybercrime gang in the operation.

According to The Indian Express Tamil, Chennai Cyber Crime Police were investigating the incident. Investigators were reportedly examining the IP addresses allegedly used by the hackers, along with the bank accounts that received the transferred funds.

The investigation is expected to establish how the perpetrators accessed the government accounts and carried out the transactions.

Vijay's TVK Government Faces Fresh Questions Over Administration

The latest controversy comes amid previous criticism directed at Vijay's government during its first six months in office.

The TVK administration had pledged to deliver a corruption-free government but has faced allegations involving irregularities in government tenders, the appointment of the Chief Minister's personal astrologer to an official position and an order seeking to exempt the Law and Order Department from the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Despite the criticism, the administration has so far navigated several controversies without significant damage to its public standing.

However, the reported loss of more than Rs 22 crore from government accounts has brought financial oversight and the protection of public money into focus.

With the cybercrime investigation under way, further details are expected to emerge about the alleged transfers, the accounts involved and the individuals responsible.

The Vijay-led government now faces demands for answers over the reported incident as investigators continue their probe.