Actor-politician Vijay’s legal bid to evade a Rs 1.5 crore Income Tax penalty has failed spectacularly. The Madras High Court, in a firm judgment, has sustained the department’s decision, directing the Thalapathy star to foot the bill without further delay.
Roots of the dispute lie in FY 2016-17. Vijay declared Rs 35.42 crore in assets, but IT sleuths spotted gaps when cross-checking 2015 filings. The prime issue: unreported Rs 15 crore from the hit movie ‘Puli’. Penalty proceedings culminated in a 2022 notice.
Vijay approached the court alleging the order violated time limits set before June 2019. While an initial stay paused payments, the final hearing before Justice Senthilkumar Ramamurthi sealed his fate, validating the IT action entirely.
Compounding woes, the CBI continues grilling Vijay on the Karur stampede tragedy during a TVK event. Two questioning sessions down, focus remains on crowd management lapses tied to his tardiness. Official reports blame the buildup for the deadly unrest; Vijay refutes all charges.
In the glare of fame and politics, this episode highlights the perils of tax evasion claims. Vijay’s next moves will be watched keenly as he balances stardom, activism, and now enforceable financial obligations.