Stalin's son-in-law sends legal notices to TVK ministers over graft allegations

Senior DMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin's son-in-law V Sabareesan has sent legal notices to Tamilga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) ministers Aadhav Arjuna and Nirmal Kumar, accusing them of making "false, baseless and defamatory" allegations against him during recent press conferences.

The legal notice seeks an immediate and unconditional apology from both ministers, warning that legal proceedings will be initiated if they fail to retract their statements.

The notices pertain to separate allegations levelled by the two TVK leaders. According to the legal notice, Nirmal Kumar had linked Sabareesan to alleged corruption in procurement carried out by the Electricity Board (EB) department, while Aadhav Arjuna claimed that Sabareesan was connected to alleged corruption across 16 government departments.

Sabareesan has denied the allegations, describing them as defamatory and without any factual basis. Through the legal notices, he has demanded that both ministers withdraw their remarks and issue a public apology, failing which he would pursue legal remedies.

The development comes amid escalating political tensions between the ruling TVK government and the opposition DMK in Tamil Nadu.

On Sunday, DMK president M K Stalin launched a sharp attack on the C Joseph Vijay-led government, claiming it lacked a genuine public mandate and hinting that the government may not complete its five-year term.

Addressing a party event in Chennai, Stalin described the TVK government as a "minority" administration, noting that it had secured only 108 seats in the Assembly – short of the 118 needed for a majority – and was surviving with the support of parties that had until recently been part of the DMK-led alliance.

He suggested that the government could collapse within the next three to six months and urged party workers to prepare for a possible early election.

The TVK formed the government after securing the support of Congress, the Left parties, VCK and IUML, all of which had contested the April 23 Assembly election as part of the DMK-led alliance before switching sides to back Vijay. On Saturday, Vaiko's MDMK also exited the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and extended its support to the ruling TVK.

The exchange of legal notices marks the latest flashpoint in the intensifying political confrontation between the ruling TVK and the opposition DMK.

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