Bengaluru, Aug. 1 -- The Supreme Court on Friday granted anticipatory bail to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) lawmaker and former minister V Senthil Balaji in a corruption case concerning alleged irregularities in the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC). A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi passed the interim order after Balaji appealed against a Madras high court order refusing to protect him from arrest. The high court observed that the allegations involved a loss of around rupees 17 crore to the state exchequer and his custodial interrogation was required. The Supreme Court said that Balaji was no longer a serving minister and it was unlikely he exercises any clout to influence the investigation. "If he is guilty, he will have to face consequences. This man is not going to jump the investigation and go out. We will ensure he participates in the investigation and he will not interfere with the investigation. If there is any perception of breach, come to us," the Supreme Court said. The Court directed him to cooperate with the probe and to surrender his passport. Senior advocate Guru Krishna K, who appeared for the Tamil Nadu government, opposed Balaji's plea. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared for Balaji assured the bench that the DMK leader will cooperate with the investigating authorities and that he had already deposited his passport with the probe agency. Balaji moved the Supreme Court hours after his anticipatory bail application was rejected on Thursday. P4...