Vijay removes astrologer as Officer on Special Duty within a day amid backlash

Tamil Nadu CM Vijay has removed astrologer Rickey Radhan Pandit Vetrivel from the post of Officer on Special Duty (OSD).

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay on Wednesday removed astrologer Rickey Radhan Pandit Vetrivel from the post of Officer on Special Duty (OSD). CM Vijay issued the order moments after he won the floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly with 144 votes.

Vetriviel’s appointment as the Chief Minister’s OSD had caused a huge row.

Hailing from Erode, the astrologer was once among the prominent advisers consulted by former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. However, their association reportedly came to an end after one of his major predictions did not materialise.

Vetrivel had allegedly assured Jayalalithaa that she would not face imprisonment in the disproportionate assets case. But after she was sentenced to jail in September 2014 following the court verdict, the relationship reportedly broke down. Sources familiar with the developments said Jayalalithaa discontinued consultations with him, after which Vetrivel relocated to Singapore.

It was during this period that he reshaped his public identity. Taking on the name “Radhan Pandit Vetrivel”, which carried a stronger North Indian association, he sought to expand his reach and connect with a wider Indian diaspora audience. Though a Tamil native from Erode with a residence in Chennai, he spent time in Singapore before later moving to Delhi. Vetrivel’s associates say the shift was influenced both by astrological reasons and a desire to establish broader recognition.

Sources earlier told The Indian Express Vetrivel entered Vijay’s political network after being introduced through an intermediary following his return from Delhi in 2008. His role within the actor’s evolving political setup soon became noticeable. He is said to have advised Vijay to contest from a constituency starting with the letter “V”, a detail earlier reported by The Indian Express. Ahead of the elections he projected a meteoric rise for Vijay in Tamil Nadu politics.

Arun Janardhanan is an experienced and authoritative Tamil Nadu correspondent for The Indian Express. Based in the state, his reporting combines ground-level access with long-form clarity, offering readers a nuanced understanding of South India’s political, judicial, and cultural life - work that reflects both depth of expertise and sustained authority. Expertise Geographic Focus: As Tamil Nadu Correspondent focused on politics, crime, faith and disputes, Janardhanan has been also reporting extensively on Sri Lanka, producing a decade-long body of work on its elections, governance, and the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings through detailed stories and interviews. Key Coverage Areas: State Politics and Governance: Close reporting on the DMK and AIADMK, the emergence of new political actors such as actor Vijay’s TVK, internal party churn, Centre–State tensions, and the role of the Governor. Legal and Judicial Affairs: Consistent coverage of the Madras High Court, including religion-linked disputes and cases involving state authority and civil liberties. Investigations: Deep-dive series on landmark cases and unresolved questions, including the Tirupati encounter and the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, alongside multiple investigative series from Tamil Nadu. Culture, Society, and Crisis: Reporting on cultural organisations, language debates, and disaster coverage—from cyclones to prolonged monsoon emergencies—anchored in on-the-ground detail. His reporting has been recognised with the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism. Beyond journalism, Janardhanan is also a screenwriter; his Malayalam feature film Aarkkariyam was released in 2021. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay on Wednesday removed astrologer Rickey Radhan Pandit Vetrivel from the post of Officer on Special Duty (OSD). CM Vijay issued the order moments after he won the floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly with 144 votes.

Vetriviel’s appointment as the Chief Minister’s OSD had caused a huge row.

Hailing from Erode, the astrologer was once among the prominent advisers consulted by former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. However, their association reportedly came to an end after one of his major predictions did not materialise.

Vetrivel had allegedly assured Jayalalithaa that she would not face imprisonment in the disproportionate assets case. But after she was sentenced to jail in September 2014 following the court verdict, the relationship reportedly broke down. Sources familiar with the developments said Jayalalithaa discontinued consultations with him, after which Vetrivel relocated to Singapore.

It was during this period that he reshaped his public identity. Taking on the name “Radhan Pandit Vetrivel”, which carried a stronger North Indian association, he sought to expand his reach and connect with a wider Indian diaspora audience. Though a Tamil native from Erode with a residence in Chennai, he spent time in Singapore before later moving to Delhi. Vetrivel’s associates say the shift was influenced both by astrological reasons and a desire to establish broader recognition.

Sources earlier told The Indian Express Vetrivel entered Vijay’s political network after being introduced through an intermediary following his return from Delhi in 2008. His role within the actor’s evolving political setup soon became noticeable. He is said to have advised Vijay to contest from a constituency starting with the letter “V”, a detail earlier reported by The Indian Express. Ahead of the elections he projected a meteoric rise for Vijay in Tamil Nadu politics.