CHENNAI: In a temporary setback to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), which has been virulently pursuing the case on alleged Tasmac tender scam, the Madras High Court has stayed the investigation against one of the accused in the case.
Former minister and DMK leader V Senthil Balaji is also an accused in this case registered by the DVAC on July 28.
The first division bench of Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan on Friday passed the interim order on a petition filed by T Ramesh, of Karur, who alleged a mala fide intention behind the DVAC’s action to add him as an accused in the Tasmac case and arrest him as soon as he was released in an MLA poaching case.
Recording the submissions made by senior counsel V Raghavachari representing the petitioner, the bench noted that the main issue is that the petitioner was granted bail on July 27, 2026, but was arrested at the gate of the prison on July 30 in the Tasmac case by the DVAC; and it is submitted that this is done with a mala fide intention.
Stating that as the fact remains that the petitioner is not an accused in the present case, it noted, “The issues raised need to be considered by this court after affording opportunity (of being heard) to all the parties.”
“In such a view of the matter, to balance the rights and protect the interest, we deem it fit to pass an interim order staying all further proceedings and investigation insofar as it concerns the petitioner, pending disposal of the petition,” the bench said in the order.
Adjourning the case to August 27, the bench directed the respondents to file the counter-affidavits by then.
During arguments, Raghavachari submitted that Ramesh was not named as an accused in the DVAC FIR but he was treated as the eighth accused and was arrested on July 30 before being remanded in judicial custody. Senior counsel Siddharth Dave and State Public Prosecutor R John Sathyan informed the court that Ramesh was a close aide of Senthil Balaji and was a key person in the scam.
