OCI status of foreigners who voted in Tamil Nadu Assembly election comes under scrutiny

The Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status of foreign nationals who voted in the recent Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu has come under scrutiny, official sources said on Tuesday (May 19, 2026).

The number of foreigners of Indian origin who voted in a fraudulent manner has increased to 30.

Action planned

Their declaration while applying for the OCI card that they had surrendered their voter identity cards or deleted their name from the electoral rolls will be treated as a false declaration and action will taken under law, the sources said.

The OCI application form has a clause which states that if it is found that the registration (as an OCI cardholder) was obtained by means of fraud, false representation, or concealment of any material fact, the registration of such a person will be cancelled forthwith and he/she will also be prevented from entering India.

While law enforcement agencies were analysing the arrival and departure details of Indian-origin foreign nationals in the last 30 days, those arrested in Chennai, Madurai, and other places will not be allowed to return to their respective countries until the completion of the case.

Court order

However, they could travel after obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the competent authority or an order from the designated court, the sources said.

An analysis of the foreigners who arrived in Tamil Nadu since April 15, 2026, revealed that a sizeable number of them were of Indian origin and came to visit their families. “During the summer holidays, at least 30%-35% of the foreign nationals arriving in the State are OCI cardholders. We are trying to find out how many them exercised franchise and whether any particular group or agency facilitated or funded their participation in the election,” a senior State police officer told The Hindu.

Crucial evidence

Acting on special intelligence, immigration officials, in coordination with the State police, intercepted several foreigners who were about to board flights to their respective countries from Chennai and Madurai. The indelible ink (the mark of a cast ballot) found on their index fingers was crucial evidence to confirm that they had voted and sufficient ground to arrest or detain them. Those arrested or detained for inquiry were passport-holders of Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, Canada, Indonesia, Australia, and other countries, the sources said.

The immigration authorities wrote to the police and handed the foreigners over to them. The foreigners were booked on the charges of cheating and violation of provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

Any false declaration in the OCI application forms and in the forms given under the Special Intensive Revision meant to remove migrated or deceased voters would attract action under other provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the sources said.

Meanwhile, officials of a few foreign missions were in touch with the immigration authorities to check whether any of their nationals was arrested for the alleged fraudulent voting, the sources said.