The Tamil Nadu police on Wednesday (May 6, 2026) night withdrew the convoy and security scale given to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leader C. Joseph Vijay, official sources said.

The security protocol accorded to Mr. Vijay, which was on par with the Z-Plus scale given to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, was reduced to bare minimum.

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Hours after the early indications during the counting of votes on May 4, 2025, pointed to a huge victory for TVK, the police enhanced security arrangements at the residence and party office of Mr. Vijay.

While police officers said the security was beefed to regulate the huge gathering of party workers and fans at the residence of the TVK leader, the route bandobust and other security measures pointed to elevating the protection of Mr. Vijay to the scale of a Chief Minister.

A senior officer in the rank of a Deputy Inspector-General of Police was deployed to supervise the security of Mr. Vijay. More than a dozen armed commandos of the Security Branch CID of the State police took charge of the bandobust. An access control system was also put in place, the sources said.

Two more officers in the rank of a Superintendent of Police were directed to report to the Inspector-General of Police, Intelligence. They were placed on special duty to attend the urgent works relating to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Elections 2026 until further orders.

However, a senior police officer said the security arrangements were withdrawn following a request made by senior TVK leaders. “They did not want the convoy or security protocol,” the officer who requested not to be quoted said.

The three officers who were given the special duty were also called back and asked to go back to their earlier postings, the officer said.

‘Y’ scale remains

Mr. Vijay is protected by ‘Y’ scale of security which was given by the Union Government. Armed guards of the Central Reserve Police Force provide security cover to him while on the move and the place of stay.

Besides private security guards engaged by the party to protect the actor-turned-politician, the local police also deploy personnel during travel and at public gatherings, the sources said.