Tamil Superstar Vijay Navigates Legal Challenges and Past Controversy
Tamil cinema icon Vijay finds himself at the center of multiple legal developments this month. The Central Bureau of Investigation questioned the actor on January 12 regarding the Karur stampede case. Simultaneously, his upcoming film Jana Nayagan faces a certification dispute that has reached the Supreme Court.
The 2017 Trolling Incident Revisited
These current events bring renewed attention to Vijay's past stance against online abuse. Nearly a decade ago, the actor publicly condemned fans who targeted Bengaluru-based journalist Dhanya Rajendran with vicious trolling.
The controversy began when Rajendran tweeted about walking out of Shah Rukh Khan's film Jab Harry Met Sejal. She compared this experience to leaving Vijay's 2010 movie Sura. Vijay's supporters responded with immediate anger.
The trolling escalated rapidly over subsequent days. Social media posts included rape threats and offensive remarks about the journalist's family. Supporters drove a hashtag campaign that specifically singled out Rajendran for harassment.
Legal Action and Vijay's Response
Dhanya Rajendran approached law enforcement authorities following the abuse. Police recorded her statement and began searching for four users who tweeted from anonymous accounts. Those accounts were later deleted according to reports.
Authorities registered cases under multiple legal provisions:
- Sections of the Indian Penal Code
- The Information Technology Act, 2000
- The Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, 2002
When the abuse came to light, Vijay released a strong statement condemning the attacks. He appealed directly to his fans to stop the harassment.
"In society, I respect women the most," Vijay declared. "Whoever has the right to describe whatever the movie is according to their wish."
The actor emphasized that no circumstances justify contemptuous comments about women. He urged restraint in online behavior, specifically asking people to avoid posting anything that could harm women.
Current Legal Developments
Vijay's recent CBI questioning represents one legal front. Meanwhile, the producer of his upcoming film Jana Nayagan has moved the Supreme Court over a CBFC certification dispute.
The film was originally scheduled for release on January 9, 2026. A Madras High Court division bench stayed an earlier single bench order, prompting the Supreme Court appeal. The apex court is expected to hear the matter on January 21.
These parallel developments create a complex legal landscape for the popular actor. They also refocus attention on his past principled stand against online harassment targeting women journalists.
