Cash for Jobs Scam: Senthil Balaji Files Bail Plea Before Chennai Court

Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji on Friday filed a bail application before a Chennai Court.

Balaji was apprehended by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case in June 2023.

The bail plea filed by Balaji is scheduled for a hearing before Principal Sessions Judge S Alli on September 11, 2023.

Balaji’s arrest is related to a money laundering case linked to a cash-for-jobs scam that occurred during his tenure as Transport Minister in a prior AIADMK administration. The agency has submitted a comprehensive charge sheet comprising approximately 3,000 pages to the PSJ.

On August 14, the local court accepted the charge sheet and transferred the case to the Special Court responsible for handling trials involving MPs and MLAs from Tamil Nadu.

Subsequently, the bail application was filed following a decision by the Madras High Court last week, which ruled that Balaji’s request for relief must be addressed and resolved exclusively by the PSJ.

A division bench comprising Justice R Suresh Kumar and Justice K Kumaresh also directed the lower court to revoke the transfer of the case and to deliberate and decide on the bail application.