Supreme Court grants bail to former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji in a money laundering case
The Supreme Court granted bail to former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji in a money laundering case, stating that strict bail conditions and prosecution delays are incompatible.
Justices AS Oka and AG Masih imposed strict terms when providing relief to Balaji, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) last June in connection with a money laundering case related to a cash-for-jobs scam.
Balaji took his bail petition to the Supreme Court following the rejection of his plea by the Madras High Court on February 28.
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The Supreme Court postponed the decision on August 12 after listening to arguments from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for the ED and senior advocates Mukul Rohatagi and Sidharth Luthra for Balaji.
The Madras High Court rejected Balaji’s bail request, stating that granting bail in such a case would be detrimental to the public interest.
The High Court directed that the trial must take place daily following the Supreme Court’s guidelines.
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin welcomes the verdict; criticizes ED
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin, welcomes Supreme Court’s ruling and criticized the ED for acting as a “department of suppression of political opponents”.
“Even during the Emergency, no one was put in jail for so many days. Political conspiracies continued for 15 months. By arresting him and keeping him in jail, they wanted to break the resolve of my brother Senthil Balaji. I welcome Senthil Balaji, who is coming out of prison. Your sacrifice is great! Assurance is greater than that!” he tweeted.
Balaji was arrested by the ED on June 14 last year
Last year on June 14, Balaji was arrested by the ED in a money laundering case related to the cash-for-jobs scam during his time as the transport minister in the previous AIADMK government.
The case involves suspected wrongdoing in the hiring of bus conductors in the Tamil Nadu transport department, as well as the hiring of drivers and junior engineers.
Balaji stepped down from the Tamil Nadu Cabinet on February 13, eight months after being arrested.
Last year on August 12, the ED submitted a 3,000-page chargesheet against Balaji, accusing him of colluding with his brother and transport department officials to receive bribes from job seekers.
On October 19 last year, the Madras High Court had dismissed Balaji’s earlier bail plea. A local court had also dismissed his bail petitions thrice.
