Chennai: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has arrested two men from Karur—Karthik (43) and Ramesh (45)—described as close associates of former DMK minister V. Senthil Balaji, in connection with alleged irregularities in TASMAC.
DVAC police have registered a case against seven people, including Senthil Balaji and IAS officer Visagan, alleging that during the previous DMK regime, large-scale malpractice took place in liquor procurement and sales.
As part of the probe, searches were conducted at 45 locations, including residences linked to the accused and liquor units, and key documents were seized. After examining the materials, investigators said Karthik and Ramesh were found to have interfered in TASMAC administration and carried out illegal collections.
According to the allegations, money was collected at the rate of Rs 10 per bottle, and several lakhs of rupees were demanded for transfers of TASMAC officials. DVAC said the duo were arrested on Thursday, and inquiry is also said to be under way with another close associate, Ratheesh Raj.
The report also notes that Karthik and Ramesh had earlier been arrested by Triplicane police in a separate case, in which they were alleged to have negotiated offering Rs 35 crore each to MLAs to destabilise the TVK government; they had come out on bail two days ago.
