The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) formally took over the job of securing C. Joseph Vijay, the well-known Tamil actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) President, under the 'Y' category security approved by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
This upgraded security detail, restricted to Tamil Nadu, was sanctioned previously in February following central intelligence agencies' evaluation of a plausible threat to Vijay's security.
Under the deal, the CRPF's VIP security wing will now provide his security with round-the-clock deployment of Personal Security Officers (PSOs), armed guards at his home, and surveillance at all locations approved where he might reside or travel.
According to the 'Y' category security protocol, Vijay will be accompanied by a group of seven to eight armed CRPF personnel, which will include two top commandos. Two escort cars will be part of the security convoy as well, with local police officers being summoned for supplementary support in case of requirements.
The 50-year-old actor, who is still one of India's highest-profile film personalities, was recently singled out by Fortune India Magazine as the country's second-highest celebrity tax payer—bearing witness to his standing both within the film world and society at large.
Vijay started out in Tamil cinema as a kid artist before making his first breakthrough in a leading role with the 1992 film Naalaiya Theerpu, which was directed by his father, veteran director S.A. Chandrasekhar.
In a historic decision, Vijay officially entered the political scene by establishing the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) prior to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. His foray into politics from cinema will be sealed with his last film, Jana Nayagan, directed by H. Vinoth—after which he will devote himself entirely to public service.
Vijay's political emergence has already agitated Tamil Nadu's political landscape. His party has come out strongly against the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), forcing both the DMK and its arch-rival, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), to rethink their strategies in view of the make-or-break 2026 Assembly elections.
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