Former AIADMK minister D. Jayakumar has raised pointed questions about the involvement of film producer Akash Bhaskaran in the ongoing Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe linked to a ₹1,000 crore scam in Tamil Nadu’s TASMAC (Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation). His remarks come in the wake of ED raids on multiple premises, including liquor factories and the TASMAC head office.
The investigation intensified last March when ED officials raided TASMAC’s headquarters and several liquor production units, alleging large-scale financial irregularities amounting to ₹1,000 crore. In follow-up raids across Chennai, officials searched over 10 locations, including the home of TASMAC Managing Director Vishagan in Manapakkam, the SNJ distillery in Choolaimedu, and the residences of film producer Akash Bhaskaran in Teynampet and industrialist Devakumar in Triplicane.
Akash Bhaskaran, known for producing films like Idli Kadai featuring Dhanush and Parasakthi starring Sivakarthikeyan, was reportedly summoned by the ED for questioning but has yet to appear. His absence has fueled speculation, especially as several TASMAC officials have already responded to the agency’s inquiries.
In this backdrop, Former AIADMK minister Jayakumar took to social media platform X, posting a video and sharply criticizing the DMK government questioned the presence of Akash Bhaskaran during Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s visit to Senthil Balaji at the hospital. Balaji had been admitted after reportedly experiencing chest pain following his arrest by the ED.
In the post, Jayakumar mocked the hospital visit saying, “Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi went to witness the chest pain drama staged by ‘martyr’ Senthil Balaji during the Enforcement Directorate raid. Why did he take Akash Bhaskaran inside with him? What is the connection between “Ten Rupees Balaji” and the producer of Parasakthi? Why did Udhayanidhi personally seek out Akash Bhaskaran and take him into the hospital? It is now glaringly evident that DAWN PICTURES was operating using TASMAC revenue!”
தியாகி செந்தில் பாலாஜி அமலாக்கத்துறை சோதனையின் போது மருத்துவமனையில் நடத்திய நெஞ்சு வலி நாடகத்தை காண்பதற்கு சென்றார் துணை முதலமைச்சர் உதயநிதி.
கையோடு ஆகாஷ் பாஸ்கரனை உள்ளே அழைத்துச் சென்றது ஏன்?
பத்து ரூபாய் பாலாஜிக்கும் பராசக்தி தயாரிப்பாளருக்கும் என்ன தொடர்பு?
உதயநிதி ஆகாஷ்… pic.twitter.com/ikpb97uYEz— DJayakumar (@djayakumaroffcl) May 21, 2025
Further scrutiny has also fallen on Akash Bhaskaran’s personal connections. He is married to Dharani, the daughter of Thenmozhi (Karunanidhi’s granddaughter) and C.K. Ranganathan, the chairman of CavinKare. This family link, combined with Akash’s rising profile in the Tamil film industry, has intensified public and political curiosity about his role in the unfolding scandal.
As the ED probe continues and the opposition ramps up its criticism, pressure mounts on the DMK government to clarify the nature of these alleged connections and address the accusations of misuse of public funds.
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