Senthil Balaji, who was reinstated as a Cabinet minister in the DMK government shortly after being granted bail in a money laundering case by the Supreme Court last year, will retain his bail despite his resignation.
With Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader Senthil Balaji stepping down from his ministerial post in the M.K. Stalin-led Tamil Nadu government on Sunday, the Supreme Court on Monday declined to cancel the bail granted to him in a money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The court had earlier, on April 23, directed Balaji to choose between retaining his position in the Cabinet and continuing on bail in the ongoing case. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the DMK leader, had requested time until Monday for a decision.
On being informed that Balaji had resigned and that his resignation had been accepted by Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi, a bench comprising Justices A.S. Oka and A.G. Masih noted the development and observed there was no ground to proceed with the plea seeking cancellation of bail.
Balaji was granted bail by the Supreme Court on September 26, 2024, with the court noting that the trial—stemming from the cash-for-jobs scam—was unlikely to commence soon and that the accused had already spent over a year in custody. However, just three days later, he was reinducted as a Cabinet minister, prompting the ED to approach the court for cancellation of his bail, arguing that he was in a position to influence witnesses.
During the April 23 hearing, the apex court had expressed strong disapproval of Balaji라이브 바카라 reinstatement, stating that one of the key reasons he had been granted bail was that he was no longer holding ministerial office.
On Monday, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the ED, requested the court to impose a condition preventing Balaji from rejoining the Cabinet while the case is pending. He drew a parallel with the conditions imposed on former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a separate case.
Mehta also highlighted Balaji라이브 바카라 influence, noting that he had retained a ministerial position without portfolio even while in judicial custody. He voiced concerns that the trial in the predicate offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act could be compromised due to Balaji라이브 바카라 potential to interfere with proceedings.