In a significant crackdown on illegal voting, two Sri Lankan nationals were arrested at Madurai Airport in Tamil Nadu for participating in the 2026 Legislative Assembly elections without proper eligibility. The elections took place on April 23, 2026, with results declared on May 4, where the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam emerged victorious, leading to C. Joseph Vijay's appointment as Chief Minister. Following complaints of irregularities, the Election Commission alerted airport immigration officials to scrutinize Non-Resident Indians returning from voting abroad. This led to inspections at various airports, including Chennai, Tiruchi, Coimbatore, and Madurai, uncovering that 17 individuals from foreign countries, including Sri Lanka, Canada, and Australia, had voted illegally. Among those arrested were Krishnasamy, a 75-year-old from Namakkal district, and Mary Jeno Fernando, a 64-year-old from Thoothukudi district, both of whom held Sri Lankan citizenship. They were subsequently handed over to the Avaniyapuram police, who are now conducting further investigations into the matter.