SC rejects Tamil Nadu minister Senthil Balaji’s plea in money laundering case

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea moved by former Tamil Nadu minister and DMK leader V Senthil Balaji for a clarification with regard to an order passed by the top court in April which forced Balaji to resign as a minister.

A division bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi observed that the April order did not prevent Balaji from becoming a minister as it only recorded a submission. However, the bench made it clear that it could cancel his bail in case he becomes a minister. "This is the reflection of the mind of the court. The court has not prevented you from becoming minister. But the day you become minister, when we find that you have earlier been accused of influencing the witnesses, we cancel the bail again," Justice Kant, speaking for the bench, verbally remarked.

Balaji was granted bail by the SC in September 2024 in a money laundering case. This was based on an understanding that Balaji was no longer a minister after he had resigned from the post. However, he was later reinstated as a state minister and subsequently an application was moved to recall his bail.


In its April order, the top court passed strong observations against Balaji and told him that he has to either resign or go back to jail.