Four months after the untimely demise of legendary actor Vivek, the National Human Rights Commission has launched a probe into the actor's death and to ascertain the real cause of death. Vivek, the recipient of the Padma Shri award and doyen of the Indian cinema industry, has passed away on April 17, 2021, in Chennai at the age of 59 after suffering a cardiac arrest. His demise had immensely shocked the fans and fraternities across and beyond the borders and he had left trees of legacy behind him which stand tall and display the actor's contribution to society.

Vivek had acted in hundreds of movies as a comedian and being a social activist, he had held campaigns across Tamil Nadu advocating the people to receive the Covid-19 vaccine doses to beat the pandemic. He had supported the vaccination drive and worked along with the Tamil Nadu government in expanding the drive by addressing the concerns and hesitancy among the people. Besides advocating for vaccines, Vivek had taken the vaccine shot in Chennai's Omandurar Government Hospital on April 15. 

Following receiving the vaccine, Vivek had reiterated his request to the people to receive the vaccine. However, on April 16, he had suffered a heart attack and he was rushed to SIMS Hospital in Chennai for further treatment. He was getting treated at the ICU under life support. Thousands of fans had prayed for his speedy recovery when he was battling for survival. Amid treatment, his health didn't respond and he had breathed his last in the wee hours of April 17 at the age of 59.

His demise had saddened the industry and the fans, while they were mourning and paying their tribute, several people had said that he could have died due to the Covid-19 vaccine as he was hospitalized the next day of receiving the vaccine. His demise had stirred controversies and reluctance among people from receiving the vaccine doses. However, the hospital and the state government had denied that the vaccine was the cause of Vivek's death and that he had already been suffering from heart disease. Tamil Nadu Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan had also affirmed that actor Vivek's cardiac arrest was not linked with Covid-19 vaccine. 

Later, Vivek's family had also said in a statement that Vivek didn't die due to the vaccine. However, his death still remains as a shock and with a vague cause as there are many people who still claim that the vaccine was the cause why Vivek had died. Four months after his demise, Saravanan, an RTI activist from Villupuram, has moved his petition to the National Human Rights Commission. 

In his petition, Saravanan said, "Actor Vivek has died of cardiac arrest after receiving the Covid-19 vaccination. Furthermore, the Tamil Nadu government hasn't conducted any medical investigation into his death and whether he had a history of cardiac arrest or he suffered from it after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine and released it to the public." He further demanded the human rights body to investigate Vivek's death to ascertain the real cause of his demise. The National Human Rights Commission has accepted Saravanan's petition and has started legal measures for the investigation.