V Senthil Balaji Gets Anticipatory Bail from SC in Fresh TASMAC Scam Case

In a relief to DMK leader and former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji, the Supreme Court on Friday granted him anticipatory bail in a fresh corruption case linked to alleged irregularities in the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC). The protection will remain in force until further orders.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi granted the relief with certain conditions, including Balaji’s cooperation with the investigation, surrender of his passport, and a direction that he should not attempt to influence witnesses.

While granting the relief, Justice Bagchi cautioned Balaji’s legal team that any violation of the bail conditions would invite strict action, including modification or cancellation of the court’s order.

The Supreme Court’s decision came after the Madras High Court rejected Balaji’s anticipatory bail plea in the FIR registered by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) in the TASMAC case. Following the High Court order, Balaji approached the apex court seeking urgent protection from possible arrest.

Senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Mukul Rohatgi and Amit Anand Tiwari, appearing for Balaji, argued that the FIR was largely based on documents submitted earlier by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and alleged that the case was motivated by political considerations. They maintained that Balaji was not a flight risk and that custodial interrogation was unnecessary.

The FIR alleges a large-scale corruption scheme in TASMAC, involving irregularities in the allocation of shops and bars. Investigators have claimed that the alleged racket involved cash kickbacks worth tens of crores, with bottle supply companies allegedly generating inflated or bogus invoices for distilleries.

Balaji, who represents Coimbatore South in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, was the minister in charge of the department during the period mentioned in the FIR. His legal team argued that TASMAC functions as an independent corporation and that the allegations relate to events between 2021 and 2025.