The Madras High Court on Thursday questioned a bail plea filed in the alleged TASMAC irregularities case, asking whether the petitioner was attempting to seek sympathy after being arrested in a corruption matter.
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption police have registered a case against seven people, including former DMK minister V. Senthil Balaji. He has been named as the first accused, while IAS officer Visagan has been listed as the second accused.
Others booked include former senior regional manager of TASMAC Ramadurai Murugan, R. Panneerselvam, Senthil Balaji’s personal assistant Bhaskar, and two others identified as Radesh Raj and Karthik. The FIR includes nine sections, including provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Investigators are probing alleged irregularities linked to bar tenders, procurement, an alleged Rs 10 per bottle collection, transport tenders, staff appointments and party funds.
Karthik, a native of Karur, moved the High Court seeking bail for the second time. During the hearing before Justice V. Lakshminarayanan, his counsel argued that police had taken him into custody for four days but did not seize anything, and sought bail. The judge made the remark in open court, while the police sought time to file their response. The matter was posted to September 25.
