CHENNAI: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) arrested two men in connection with its investigation into alleged large-scale irregularities in the functioning of Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) between 2021 and 2025. The arrested, identified as Karthik and his associate Ramesh from Karur district, were produced before a court in Chennai on Friday and remanded in judicial custody.The arrests followed the registration of a corruption case by Special Investigation Cell (SIC) of DVAC after a preliminary inquiry into materials received from Tamil Nadu govt. The agency stated that the inquiry disclosed prima facie evidence of cognisable offences.The case was registered against former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji, former TASMAC managing director S Visakan, former senior regional managers T Ramadurai Murugan and R Panneer Selvam, Balaji’s former personal assistant Bhaskar, Rathesh Raj Shanmugavel, Karthik, distillery and brewery companies, transport firms, bottling companies, unidentified TASMAC officials and others.According to DVAC, the case was registered under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018.Investigators alleged that the arrested had been involved in irregularities relating to the allotment of TASMAC bar licences, transport contracts and other aspects of the corporation’s operations during the period from 2021 to 2025.During the investigation, Karthik and his associate Ramesh were arrested on July 30. Ramesh was not named in the original first information report but was arrested based on evidence collected during further investigation.
