In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India has granted bail to former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji in connection with a money laundering case tied to the alleged 2014 cash-for-jobs scam. The court’s decision came during a hearing on Thursday, with a bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih imposing stringent conditions as part of the bail.
The Supreme Court had reserved its judgment on August 12, following detailed submissions from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who represented the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Sidharth Luthra, who defended Senthil Balaji.
Earlier, the Madras High Court had dismissed Balaji’s bail plea, stating that granting bail in such a high-profile case could send a detrimental message and be detrimental to the larger public interest. The high court noted that Balaji had been in custody for over eight months and directed the special court to expedite the proceedings. “Accordingly, there shall be a direction to the Principal Special Court, Chennai, to dispose of the case within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order,” the court stated. Additionally, the high court mandated that the trial should be conducted on a day-to-day basis following guidelines set forth by the Supreme Court.
Reacting to the court’s decision, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed his support for Balaji, suggesting that the ED has been misused as a tool to suppress political rivals. “Even during the Emergency, there was no jail time for so many days. A political conspiracy continued for 15 months. By arresting him and keeping him in jail, they wanted to break the resolve of brother Senthil Balaji,” Stalin remarked.
Senthil Balaji was arrested by the ED on June 14, 2023, in connection with a money laundering case related to the alleged cash-for-jobs scam, which occurred during his tenure as the transport minister in the previous AIADMK government. The case has drawn significant media attention and has been a focal point of political controversy in Tamil Nadu.
Sources By Agencies