Tasmac MD faces ED quizzing in Rs 1,000 crore graft case

CHENNAI: Enforcement Directorate took Tasmac managing director S Visakan, an IAS officer, to their office in Nungambakkam on Friday for interrogation in connection with its investigation of suspected financial discrepancies in Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation . His Manapakkam residence was searched earlier in the day.

The searches began at 6am in various locations on Friday. Apart from Visakan’s residence, searches were carried out in Besant Nagar, Choolaimedu, Anna Salai, Teynampet and T Nagar, in the houses and offices of businessmen. Film producer Akash Baskaran’s house in Teynampet was also searched but ED did not reveal the link between him and the ongoing investigation. ED teams, comprising at least four officers, reached the targeted premises in separate vehicles guarded by CRPF personnel.

ED sources said the agency had issued summonses to Visakan twice, but they were not complied with. After an eight-hour search at his residence, ED sleuths took Visakan and his wife to their Nungambakkam office while the search continued at the residence. Visakan was brought back home around 9pm and was being interrogated at his house in Manapakkam.

In March, after searching the Tasmac head office, distilleries and breweries, ED said it suspected a Rs 1,000 crore scam via illegal cash generation by inflated prices for bottles from manufacturers. It registered a case under PMLA based on DVAC FIRs registered between 2016 and 2021. Visakan was detained at the Tasmac office for at least two days.

Though Tasmac approached Madras HC to declare ED searches illegal, court rejected the plea.