New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) Former Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK MLA V. Senthil Balaji has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Madras High Court’s order rejecting his anticipatory bail plea in the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) case alleging large-scale corruption in the functioning of the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC).
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal on Thursday mentioned Balaji’s special leave petition (SLP) for urgent listing before a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant.
Acceding to the request, the CJI Kant-led Bench agreed to list the matter for hearing on Friday, subject to the removal of defects, if any.
Balaji has moved the apex court after the Madras High Court on Thursday declined to grant him pre-arrest bail in the DVAC case.
Dismissing the anticipatory bail plea, a single-judge Bench of Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan held that the nature of the allegations warranted custodial interrogation and observed that the case involved serious charges of large-scale corruption.
The High Court also took note of the prosecution’s contention that the accused had allegedly abused their official positions, entered into a criminal conspiracy and caused substantial financial loss to the state exchequer.
The case arises out of an FIR registered by the DVAC on July 28 against Balaji and several others over alleged irregularities in TASMAC between 2021 and 2025, when he served as Minister for Electricity, Prohibition and Excise.
The FIR invokes provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Corruption Act, including offences relating to criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating, falsification of records and corruption.
According to the prosecution, Balaji conspired with six others, including private individuals, distillery and brewery companies, transport contractors, bottling firms and unidentified TASMAC officials, to manipulate official processes, misappropriate public funds and facilitate the laundering of illicit money, causing substantial losses to the state.
Seeking anticipatory bail before the Madras High Court, Balaji denied the allegations and contended that the FIR was based on vague and omnibus accusations without identifying any specific tender, contract or transaction linking him to the alleged offences.
He further claimed that the case was politically motivated and had been registered due to hostility from the ruling party following the Karur stampede controversy.
Appearing for Balaji before the High Court, senior advocate N.R. Elango had argued that TASMAC functioned as an independent corporation and that the Minister had no role in awarding tenders or managing its day-to-day affairs. However, the High Court held that the gravity of the allegations and the need for a thorough investigation outweighed the grounds urged by the defence and concluded that custodial interrogation was necessary to ascertain the alleged conspiracy and financial irregularities.
–IANS
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