The Supreme Court on Thursday granted anticipatory bail to former DMK minister Senthil Balaji in a corruption case linked to TASMAC. The court also directed him to surrender his passport to the police.
The case was registered by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption wing against Senthil Balaji and six others, alleging irregularities during the previous DMK regime. The allegations include liquor procurement and tender-related malpractice, illegal bar operations and sale of liquor at inflated prices, involving corruption of several crores of rupees.
Senthil Balaji had earlier approached the Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail. The High Court dismissed the plea, observing that there was prima facie material suggesting abuse of official position and that custodial interrogation was necessary.
Challenging that order, he moved the Supreme Court with an appeal for anticipatory bail. Hearing the matter as an urgent case, a bench led by the Chief Justice granted interim protection from arrest and allowed the anticipatory bail, while imposing the condition of surrendering his passport.
