---
title: "Supreme Court Expedites Senthilbalaji Appeal After Madras High Court Rejects Bail"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/supreme-court-expedites-senthilbalaji-appeal-after-madras-high-court-rejects-bai-6soth
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: India
published: 2026-07-30T10:10:31.000Z
modified: 2026-07-30T12:31:25.272Z
language: en-IN
---

# Supreme Court Expedites Senthilbalaji Appeal After Madras High Court Rejects Bail

The Supreme Court will review a plea by former DMK Minister V. Senthilbalaji on July 31 following a denial of anticipatory bail. Defense counsel argues the latest DVAC corruption charges are based on stayed Enforcement Directorate proceedings.

## Emergency Hearing Set for Former DMK Minister

The Supreme Court of India scheduled an urgent hearing for July 31, 2026, to address an appeal by former Minister V. Senthilbalaji. The move follows a Madras High Court decision on July 30 that denied the politician pre-arrest bail in a corruption probe initiated by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC). Senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Mukul Rohatgi, and Amit Anand Tiwari presented an oral mention before Chief Justice Surya Kant, requesting immediate judicial intervention.

## Defense Challenges Legitimacy of DVAC Charges

Legal counsel for the former Minister for Prohibition, Electricity, and Excise argues that the July 28 FIR relies on outdated allegations originally brought by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Rohatgi informed the bench that the DVAC claim of cognizable offenses between 2021 and 2025 stems from a 2024 ED affidavit currently under stay by the Supreme Court. The defense team expressed concern that this new case could jeopardize Senthilbalaji’s bail status in existing matters, characterizing the investigation as a byproduct of sub judice proceedings.

## Allegations of Systemic Corruption in TASMAC

The DVAC investigation centers on claims of a wide-reaching criminal conspiracy involving the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Ltd (TASMAC). Prosecutors allege that Senthilbalaji, in coordination with several high-ranking officials and private entities, exploited official positions to siphon funds. The FIR identifies several key figures alongside the former Minister: - S. Visakan: Former Managing Director of TASMAC. - T. Rama Durai Murugan: Former Senior Regional Manager, Chennai. - R. Panneer Selvam: Former Senior Regional Manager, Chennai. - Bhaskar: Former Personal Assistant to Senthilbalaji. Authorities allege this group engaged in favoritism and decision-making manipulation involving distillery and bottling companies. The High Court previously sustained the need for custodial interrogation, citing the magnitude of alleged government exchequer losses and the organized nature of the purported money laundering network involving unauthorized power brokers and political executives.

Source: The Hindu — National

---
Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/supreme-court-expedites-senthilbalaji-appeal-after-madras-high-court-rejects-bai-6soth
Reported from: The Hindu — National