High Court questions attempt to seek sympathy in TASMAC corruption case

The Madras High Court has questioned whether an accused arrested in a corruption case was attempting to seek sympathy while hearing a bail petition filed by Moolanur Karthik in the Tasmac irregularities case.
The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) had registered a case against seven persons, including former DMK Minister V. Senthilbalaji, over alleged irregularities in the procurement of liquor for Tasmac, granting of bar licences and awarding transport tenders for moving liquor to retail outlets.
Karthik, who was arrested in the case, has approached the Madras High Court for bail for the second time.
The petition came up for hearing before Justice V. Lakshminarayanan on Friday. Counsel for Karthik argued that the police had already taken him into custody for four days for questioning but had not made any seizure. Bail was therefore sought for him.
The judge then questioned the submission, pointing out that the petitioner was already in prison in a case relating to an alleged attempt to lure an MLA through a deal. The judge asked whether the petitioner was attempting to seek sympathy despite being arrested in a corruption case.
The police sought time to file their response to the bail petition.
Accepting the request, the judge directed the police to file their response and adjourned the hearing to September 25.