In a significant ruling, the Madras High Court has upheld a Rs 1.5 crore penalty imposed on Tamil superstar and TVK leader Vijay by the Income Tax Department. The decision comes after Vijay challenged the fine, claiming procedural lapses, but the court dismissed his petition on Thursday.
The case traces back to the financial year 2016-17, when Vijay filed his income tax returns declaring assets worth Rs 35.42 crore. Tax authorities scrutinized his disclosures against previous records from 2015 and uncovered discrepancies. Specifically, they alleged that Vijay failed to report a whopping Rs 15 crore earned from his blockbuster film ‘Puli’. This omission led to the penalty notice issued in 2022.
Vijay argued that the penalty order was issued beyond the stipulated timeline, post-June 30, 2019, rendering it invalid. During hearings, Justice Senthilkumar Ramamurthi had temporarily stayed the payment, but in the final verdict, the court found no merit in the actor’s contentions and ordered compliance.
This development adds to Vijay’s mounting legal troubles. He is also under CBI scrutiny over the Karur stampede incident linked to his political rally. The probe alleges his delayed arrival caused the crowd to swell uncontrollably, resulting in chaos. Vijay and his TVK party have denied any wrongdoing, maintaining full cooperation with investigators.
As Vijay gears up for his political ambitions with TVK, these cases could impact his public image. The court has made it clear: tax compliance is non-negotiable, even for celebrities. Vijay must now settle the dues, underscoring the IT Department’s resolve against undeclared income.