Chennai, Sept 18:
The Madras High Court questioned whether Moolanur Karthik, an accused in the TASMAC irregularities case, was attempting to gain sympathy after being arrested in a corruption case while hearing his second bail petition.
Justice V. Lakshminarayanan made the observation while hearing Karthik’s petition seeking bail in the case registered by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC). The case relates to alleged irregularities in the procurement of liquor for TASMAC, grant of bar licences and awarding of transport contracts for moving liquor to TASMAC outlets.
The DVAC has registered a case against seven persons, including former Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthil Balaji, in connection with the alleged irregularities. Karthik was arrested in the case and is currently in judicial custody. The agency has alleged that the accused were involved in various irregularities connected with the functioning of the State-run liquor corporation.
Karthik had earlier approached the Madras High Court seeking bail. His first bail plea was dismissed in August. He has now approached the High Court for the second time, seeking his release from custody.
When the matter came up for hearing before Justice V. Lakshminarayanan, counsel appearing for Karthik submitted that the investigating agency had already taken him into custody for four days and questioned him. The counsel argued that despite the custodial interrogation, nothing had been recovered from the petitioner and therefore he should be granted bail.
At this stage, the judge intervened and referred to another criminal case in which Karthik was allegedly involved. The judge observed that the petitioner was already in custody in a case relating to an alleged attempt to negotiate and purchase an MLA and questioned whether he was trying to seek sympathy after being arrested in a corruption case.
The court’s observation came during the hearing of the bail plea and was in the context of the arguments advanced before it. The court did not make a finding of guilt against Karthik in either case.
The prosecution sought additional time to file its response to the fresh bail petition. The investigating agency is expected to place its objections before the court, including details of the ongoing investigation and the material collected so far.
Accepting the request, Justice Lakshminarayanan directed the police to file their response and adjourned further hearing of the bail petition to September 25.