Karthik and another DMK functionary Thangaraj were granted anticipatory bail a few days ago by the vacation bench here and both appeared before Magistrate C Vediyappan this morning.

The Magistrate directed both to appear at Sulur police station daily till further orders. Outside the court, Karthik said the case was foisted to tarnish the image of DMK, which had sought a fair probe into the gutka scam, with reported involvement of a Minister and a high ranking police official, after which Madras High Court directed a CBI inquiry.

On linking Murugesan’s name with the unit, Karthik said that being a panchayat president then, he might have sanctioned connection for
basic amenities like water, as was his duty to the public.