On December 2, 2024, the Supreme Court expressed surprise after Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji was appointed to the state cabinet just one day after being granted bail in a money laundering case related to the cash-for-jobs scam. A bench led by Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih raised concerns about the timing of his appointment, stating, “We grant bail and the next day you go and become Minister. Anybody will be bound to be under the impression that now, with your position as a senior cabinet minister, witnesses will be under pressure.”
The court was hearing a plea that sought to revisit its September 26 judgment, which granted Balaji bail despite finding a prima facie case against him. The petition argued that Balaji’s ministerial position could influence the witnesses’ testimonies due to his newfound power and prominence. While the Supreme Court clarified it would not revisit the merits of the bail decision, it indicated it would limit its inquiry to whether the appointment had put witnesses under pressure. The court further directed Balaji’s counsel to provide necessary instructions before the next hearing, set for December 13, 2024.
Senthil Balaji was arrested on June 14, 2023, in connection with a money laundering case involving a cash-for-jobs scam during his tenure as the Transport Minister in the AIADMK government. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had filed an Enforcement Case Information Register (ECIR) in 2021, based on multiple FIRs from 2018 related to the scam. Despite his arrest and the ongoing investigation, Balaji was granted bail on the grounds of his prolonged detention and the delayed trial.
Following his bail on September 26, 2024, Balaji took the oath of office as a minister on September 29, which raised questions about the appropriateness of such a move given the ongoing legal proceedings. Balaji, who later joined the DMK, currently serves as Tamil Nadu’s Electricity Minister after the party came to power in May 2021.
This news report is curated with insights from multiple reliable news sources.
