The Supreme Court will hear the bail plea of former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji on April 1. Balaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) last year in connection with a money laundering case.
A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan will hear Balaji’s plea challenging the February 28 order of the Madras High Court, which dismissed his second bail petition in the case.
The high court, in dismissing the bail petition, stated that granting bail in a case of this nature would send a wrong signal and go against the larger public interest. It noted that Balaji had been in custody for over eight months and suggested that it would be more appropriate for the special court to expedite the case’s disposal within a set time frame.
The high court directed the Principal Special Court in Chennai to dispose of the case within three months of receiving a copy of its order. It also mandated that the trial should be conducted on a day-to-day basis, adhering to the guidelines set by the Supreme Court.
Balaji was arrested on June 14, 20243 by the federal agency in connection with a money laundering case related to a cash-for-jobs scam that occurred during his tenure as Transport Minister in a previous AIADMK government.
The probe agency filed a 3,000-page charge sheet against Balaji on August 12, 2023.
Earlier, on October 19, the high court had dismissed Balaji’s first bail plea. Additionally, a local court rejected his bail petitions three times.
