The Madras High Court on Thursday refused to grant anticipatory bail to former Tamil Nadu Minister and Coimbatore South MLA Senthil Balaji in a corruption case registered by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) over alleged large-scale irregularities in the functioning of the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC).
Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan dismissed the pre-arrest bail plea after observing that the allegations involved large-scale corruption and misuse of public office. The Court held that custodial interrogation of the accused was essential for a fair and effective investigation. It also took note of the prosecution’s allegations that the accused had abused their official positions, entered into a criminal conspiracy and caused substantial financial loss to the State exchequer.
The case arises from an FIR registered by the DVAC on July 28 against Balaji and several others over alleged irregularities in TASMAC operations during the period from 2021 to 2025, when Balaji served as Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Electricity and Prohibition and Excise.
The FIR invokes offences under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 167 (public servant framing incorrect documents), 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant), 109 (abetment) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). It also includes offences under Sections 61(2), 201 and 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(a) and Section 7(c) read with Section 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
According to the prosecution, Balaji, while serving as a Minister, allegedly entered into a criminal conspiracy with six other accused, including private individuals, distillery and brewery companies, transport contractors, bottling firms and unidentified public servants associated with TASMAC. The investigation alleges that the accused committed criminal breach of trust, manipulated official records, misappropriated public funds and facilitated the generation and laundering of illicit proceeds, resulting in significant financial loss to the public exchequer.
Apprehending arrest following the registration of the FIR, Balaji approached the High Court seeking the protection of anticipatory bail under the Code of Criminal Procedure framework applicable to pre-arrest relief.
Opposing the allegations, Balaji submitted that he was innocent and had been falsely implicated in the case. He contended that the FIR contained only omnibus and general allegations without attributing any specific overt act to him. He further argued that the prosecution had failed to furnish particulars relating to the alleged tenders, contracts or transactions that formed the basis of the corruption allegations.
After considering the rival submissions and the gravity of the accusations, the High Court concluded that the nature of the allegations warranted custodial interrogation and declined to exercise its discretionary jurisdiction to grant anticipatory bail. The petition was accordingly dismissed.
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