SC reserves judgement on former TN minister V Balaji Senthil's bail plea in money laundering case

The Supreme Court reserved judegement on former Tamil Nadu minister V Balaji Senthil on Monday bail plea. The apex court was hearing bail pleas by the DMK leader challenging a February 28 order of the Madras High Court dismissing his second bail petition in a money laundering case.

Senthil was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on June 14 of last year in connection with a money laundering case linked to a cash-for-jobs scam from when he was the transport minister during an earlier AIADMK regime.

The ED had on August 12, 2023 filed a 3,000-page charge sheet against Balaji.

Feb 28 Madras HC verdict

The high court, while dismissing Senthil’s bail petition, had said that if he is let out on bail in a case of this nature, it will send a wrong signal and it will be against larger public interest.

It had further said that the petitioner has suffered incarceration for more than eight months and therefore, it will be more appropriate to direct the special court to dispose of the case within a time frame.

"Accordingly, there shall be a direction to the Principal Special Court, Chennai, to dispose of the case within a period of three months from the date of receipt of copy of this order," it had ordered.