Draft:V. Ponraj
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V. Ponraj (also referred to in some sources as Ponraj Vellaichamy) is an Indian former scientist, political commentator, and election-integrity advocate. He worked as a scientist with India's Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and served as an aide to former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, before later becoming a recurring political commentator in Tamil Nadu media and an advocate on electronic voting machine (EVM) transparency.
Scientific career
[edit]Ponraj worked as a scientist at the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), part of India's Ministry of Defence, where he served as a Senior Scientist on the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA-Tejas) programme.[1]
From 2003 to 2007, he served as Director (Technology Interface) at the President's Secretariat during A. P. J. Abdul Kalam's presidency.[1][2] From 2007 to 2014, he continued to work with Kalam as an advisor on science and technology and public policy.[2]
Ponraj co-authored the book A Manifesto for Change with Kalam, published by Aleph Book Company in 2014.[2]
He played a role in preparing a report addressing public concerns over the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu.[3]
Election-integrity advocacy
[edit]Ponraj has been publicly identified, alongside fellow Kalam associate Dr. A. K. George, as an advocate for verification of electronic voting machine (EVM) results using VVPAT (Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail) slips. At a press conference in Chennai, Ponraj and George — both described as research scholars who had worked with former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam — said that although EVMs cannot be "hacked" in the conventional sense, they can be manipulated through software, and called for poll results to be declared based on VVPAT counts. A case they had filed regarding EVM manipulation was scheduled for hearing before the Supreme Court of India.[4]
Political career and commentary
[edit]In 2016, Ponraj resigned from ADA and announced his entry into Tamil Nadu politics at a public rally in Virudhunagar district.[5] He went on to found the Abdul Kalam Vision India Party, named in tribute to Kalam, though Kalam's family reportedly objected to the use of his name and image by the party.[6]
Ponraj later joined actor Kamal Haasan's political party, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), and was appointed its Vice-President.[3] He had also previously been associated with actor Rajinikanth prior to Rajinikanth abandoning his own plans to enter politics.[3]
Ponraj has since become a recurring political commentator in Tamil-language print and television media, regularly quoted or interviewed on Tamil Nadu political developments, in publications including Dinakaran, Dinamani, and Dinamalar.[7]
In an August 2025 feature interview with the Singapore-based Tamil-language newspaper Tamil Murasu, Ponraj discussed his views on urban development, describing efforts to build Indian cities modelled on Singapore.[8]
Legal proceedings
[edit]In March 2026, two criminal cases were filed against Ponraj — one with the Cyber Crime Wing of Chennai Police and another in Cuddalore district — over remarks he made about women members of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party during a YouTube interview broadcast on 18 March 2026, following a complaint by TVK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay.[1][9]
Ponraj petitioned the Madras High Court to quash the FIRs, arguing the case was politically motivated and that his remarks were taken out of context. In its ruling, the court held that the relevant legal provision (Section 79, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) covers an identifiable class of women rather than only a named individual, and dismissed his petitions.[1]
The controversy received sustained coverage in Tamil Nadu media, including editorial cartoon commentary published in Dinamalar.[10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 "Section 79 BNS Offence Of Insulting Modesty Of "Any Woman" Covers Identifiable Class Of Women, Not Limited To Single Named Individual: Madras HC". Law Trend. 2026. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
- 1 2 3 "A Manifesto for Change". Aleph Book Company, via Barnes & Noble. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
- 1 2 3 "Abdul Kalam's former aide joins Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
- ↑ "Poll result should be declared on basis of VVPAT count: Kalam's colleagues". The New Indian Express. Chennai. Express News Service.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ↑ "Kalam's adviser Ponraj plunges into TN politics". The News Minute. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
- ↑ "Abdul Kalam Vision India Party". Wikipedia. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
- ↑ "தலைமைத் தேர்தல் ஆணையரை கைது செய்வார்களா?". Dinakaran.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ↑ Karthikeyan, P. A. (2025-08-28). "இந்திய நகரங்களையும் சிங்கப்பூர் போல் உருவாக்க உழைக்கிறோம்" [We are working to build Indian cities like Singapore]. Tamil Murasu.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ↑ "Women supporters: Vijay complains in DGP office against Ponraj". Deccan Chronicle. 2026-03-26.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ↑ "Editorial cartoon". Dinamalar. 2026-03-29.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help)
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