SC Grants Bail to Ex-TN Minister Senthil Balaji in Money Laundering Case

The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to DMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthil Balaji, who was arrested last year in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged cash-for-jobs scam.

Allowing the appeal, a bench presided over by Justice Abhay S. Oka said that onerous bail conditions had been put on the former TN minister in the order granting bail.

It may be noted that Balaji, a sitting MLA from Karur Assembly constituency was accused in a money laundering case linked to allegations of his involvement in a cash-for-jobs scam during his tenure as the state transport minister between 2011 and 2016 in the previous AIADMK government.

Senthil Balaji was then with the AIADMK and has since left that party and joined the DMK.

The former minister was accused of carrying out a scheme with his close aides to collect money from job aspirants in exchange for employment in the Tamil Nadu Transport Department.

Many job aspirants who were allegedly duped filed complaints against Senthil Balaji who they accused of accepting cash but not offering the promised jobs.

The ED had filed an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) and arrested Balaji in June 2023. He was lodged in Puzhal central prison for 471 days.


It is highly anticipated that Balaji will be reinstated to the state cabinet led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in the soon happening shuffle.

It may be recalled that the top court had earlier declined to pass any interim order staying the February 28 order of the Madras High Court, which had dismissed Balaji’s bail petition.

However, it issued a notice to the ED and sought the response of the Central agency within four weeks.


In its order, a bench of Justice N. Anand Venkatesh of the Madras High Court observed that even if Balaji had resigned from his position as a Minister, he continues as an MLA belonging to the ruling party in Tamil Nadu and continues to wield a lot of influence on the state government.

The high court had asked the trial court to complete the trial within three months by conducting the proceedings on a day-to-day basis.

Balaji was arrested by the ED in June last year and has remained in judicial custody since then.


In November last year, the Supreme Court had declined to entertain Balaji’s plea seeking bail on medical condition remarking that it was not satisfied with his plea and that his medical condition could be cured with medicines.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin has welcomed his former Cabinet colleague and senior DMK leader, Senthil Balaji after he was granted bail by the Supreme Court of India.

Stalin in a post on social media platform, X said, “Dear brother Senthil Balaji has secured bail after 471 days owing to the Supreme Court. I welcome brother Senthil Balaji who is coming out of prison with a renewed vigour. Your sacrifice is great, your resolve is even greater.”


The Chief Minister also indirectly took a dig at the Union government and alleged that they were using the ED as a weapon against Opposition leaders and described the 15-month incarceration of Balaji as a move to break his (Senthil Balaji’s) resolve.

Stalin in the post said, “In a situation where the Enforcement Directorate has been converted into a department suppressing political enemies, the apex court is the only solace.”

The Chief Minister also drew a parallel with the incarceration of political opponents during the Emergency days.

He said, “Jail life was not so long during the Emergency days”, but these political conspiracies today went up to 15 months.

Justice Abhay Oka of the Supreme Court while pronouncing the judgment observed that stringent bail provisions and delay in trial cannot go together. —IANS