26, 2026. (PTI Photo)(PTI10_26_2026_000502B) Chennai: DMK leader Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi being escorted in a vehicle after being taken into judicial custody following his arrest by the Central Crime Branch in an alleged corruption case, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Monday, Oct.
After TVK came to power, former fisheries minister Anitha R Radhakrishnan was the first senior DMK leader to be arrested, on July 3, over alleged defamatory remarks against Vijay at a public meeting. Police arrived at his residence on Aug 4, a day before the assembly session was to begin, took him to Thanjavur and released him later that day.
DMK says the cases are an attempt by TVK to mask the govt’s inefficiency. So the govt wants to divert public attention,” DMK organisation secretary R S Bharathi told TOI . Bharathi said even during AIADMK rule, so many DMK leaders were not arrested.
He is the fourth DMK leader to be arrested since TVK formed the govt five months ago. Several others, including former ministers V Senthilbalaji and P K Sekarbabu and DMK deputy general secretary A Raja, have been booked in various cases. The govt is also pursuing corruption cases against former ministers K N Nehru and E V Velu. “Like the previous arrests, action on Poyyamozhi is a diversionary tactic. Children are going missing, women are raped and murdered. TVK members are caught smuggling drugs. Within a fortnight, Vilathikulam MLA G V Markandeyan was arrested on charges of threatening Vijay. The next action was against leader of the opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin .
We will prove the charges wrong in court,” Mahesh told reporters after his arrest. But DMK looks unfazed. “I fully cooperated with the investigation in the past and will continue to do so.