New Delhi, April 23 (HS): The Supreme Court has told Tamil Nadu minister Senthil Balaji, who is accused in a money laundering case linked to the cash-for-jobs scandal, that he should either resign from his ministerial position or his bail will be revoked. The bench, chaired by Justice A.S. Oka, informed Senthil Balaji that he should notify the court regarding this matter by April 28.
The court noted that as a minister, Senthil Balaji pressured the complainant to withdraw the complaint. The court stated that the bail was granted based on the delays in the trial and extended custody, and not on the merits of the case. During the previous hearings, Senthil Balaji had argued that his reappointment as a minister did not violate any conditions of his bail. Balaji told the Supreme Court that he was granted bail on September 26, 2024. He raised questions about the petitioning party that sought the revocation of his bail in the Supreme Court, arguing that the petition was filed at the behest of political opponents. Balaji mentioned that the petition provided no information regarding any specific condition of bail that he had violated.
The petition was filed in the trial court by the complainant, Vidya Kumar. The petition stated that immediately after being granted bail, Senthil Balaji was appointed a minister, which would influence and pressure witnesses, causing them to potentially retract their testimonies. However, the Supreme Court stated that the order granting bail would not be revoked, as it could benefit others as well. The Supreme Court indicated that it would only consider the argument here regarding whether granting bail could influence the witnesses.
Balaji was arrested on June 14, 2023. A charge sheet was filed against him on August 12, 2023. The case against Balaji is related to alleged irregularities in the appointment of bus conductors, drivers, and junior engineers in the Tamil Nadu state transport department. All these appointments were made during his tenure as the transport minister between 2011 and 2015.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
