New Delhi: The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into alleged corruption and horse trading during the recent Tamil Nadu assembly floor test. A division bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice V Mohana refused to entertain the plea against the newly formed government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. The apex court firmly observed that the petition was entirely founded on vague, wild, and casual allegations without any reliable material on record to substantiate the claims.
The legal challenge stemmed from the high stakes political developments of May 13 when the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam administration successfully won a trust vote in the state assembly. The TVK had emerged as the single largest party in the general elections with 108 seats, falling short of the required 118 majority mark in the 234 member house. However, Chief Minister Vijay proved his majority comfortably by securing 144 votes with the crucial backing of the Congress, left parties, various regional allies, and a significant bloc of 25 rebel AIADMK lawmakers amid a walkout by the DMK.
The petitioner, Madurai resident KK Ramesh, approached the top court alleging that the entire floor test was tainted by massive financial inducements and political misconduct. Represented by advocate CR Jaya Sukin, the plea claimed that thousands of crores of rupees alongside lucrative government contracts were promised to opposition lawmakers to manipulate the trust vote. Seeking a stringent court monitored investigation, the petitioner also demanded the temporary imposition of President’s Rule in Tamil Nadu until federal investigators completed their inquiry into the alleged horse trading.
During the arguments, the bench expressed strong reservations about the credentials of the petitioner and the lack of evidentiary backing. Chief Justice Surya Kant pulled up the litigant, labeling him a serial PIL writer who routinely files public interest litigations without sound legal basis. When the petitioner’s counsel attempted to broadbase his arguments by highlighting nationwide political instability and the use of chartered flights by politicians, the bench refused to expand the scope of the case, reiterating that a constitutional court cannot act on mere speculation.
The dismissal brings significant relief to the infant TVK administration in Chennai, establishing greater political certainty for the ruling alliance. Legal experts note that the judgment reinforces the principle that democratically established legislative majorities cannot be easily destabilized through unsubstantiated judicial petitions.