Madras HC grants bail to DMK leader Senthil Balaji in Rs 35 cr bribery case

Chennai, July 8 (PTI) The Madras High Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to DMK legislator V Senthil Balaji and his brother V Ashok Kumar, who apprehended arrest in a case involving an alleged Rs 35 crore bribe offer to destabilise the TVK government. Justice G K Ilanthiraiyan granted anticipatory bail to Senthil Balaji, and Ashok Kumar and said they should co-operate with the investigation. The bail was granted to them on the condition that they should appear before the Triplicane police station here daily in the morning and evening. Senior counsel N R Elango appeared for Senthil Balaji and submitted that the MLA is accused of being behind the bribery attempt. Elaborating, Elango said that a person, C Thirunavukarasu called the complainant, TVK Uthangarai legislator N Elaiyaraja and informed him that if he defies the direction of the whip and vote against the Speaker in the no-confidence motion, he will be given Rs 35 crore. But the complainant refused to accept the offer. It was only a presumption that the petitioner wanted to topple the government. Nobody objected to the appointment of the speaker, he added. Bye-election was going to be held for the Karur Assembly constituency, and in order to prevent the petitioner from discharging his duty for his party, allegations have been made against him. No money has been transacted and the petitioner is an elected representative and he will co-operate with the investigation, Elango said. Senior counsel P Kumaresan, appearing for Ashok Kumar submitted that there was no question of toppling the TVK government. The DMK has only 59 MLAs. Even if the no confidence motion goes against the Speaker, the TVK has 107 MLAs. Barring the 35 MLAs who were the ministers, anybody among the remaining can become the Speaker. Opposing the plea, Public Prosecutor John Sathyan submitted that in pursuance of a conspiracy, the TVK MLA was offered Rs 35 crore to destabilise the TVK government. The five arrested accused persons in this case are the residents of Chennai. However, they stayed at a hotel for three days to hatch the conspiracy. Accused-1 Thirunavukarasu admitted that he did call the complainant. Lakshmanaperumal, who was managing the hotel, left the country immediately after the complaint was lodged. He said the police have concrete materials to show that the petitioners were involved. The prosecution came to know that there was a proposal to move a no-confidence motion against the speaker. The complainant was asked to vote against the direction of the whip and it seems hawala money was involved. There were materials to show the investigation was at the nascent stage, the prosecutor added. PTI COR VGN