The Supreme Court of India declined DMK minister V Senthil Balaji's plea for bail in a money laundering case, rejecting his request based on health reasons. Balaji, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate, sought bail which was denied by the Madras High Court earlier on October 19, citing concerns that his release could potentially influence witnesses.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and SC Sharma reviewed Balaji's health reports and concluded that his condition wasn't critical. They granted him the liberty to approach the trial court for regular bail without the interim order affecting his application's merits.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had instructed Balaji to submit his medical reports, but the High Court, while dismissing his bail plea, emphasized that his health condition didn't warrant release on bail for proper care.
The 47-year-old DMK politician, arrested on June 14 by the ED concerning a money laundering investigation related to an alleged cash-for-jobs scheme during his tenure as the transport minister in the previous AIADMK government, remains a minister in the Tamil Nadu government under Chief Minister M K Stalin, albeit without a specific portfolio.
Additionally, the federal agency summoned Senthil Balaji's brother RV Ashok Balaji, Ashok's wife Nirmala, and mother-in-law P Lakshmi for the investigation, recording several statements from V Senthil Balaji, which were included in the charge sheet. Balaji is currently in custody at the Puzhal Central Jail in Chennai.
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