Senthil Balaji Bail Granted by Supreme Court in Money Laundering Case
The Supreme Court grants Senthil Balaji bail in his money laundering case, imposing strict conditions and urging the Chennai Special Court to expedite the trial within three months.
NATIONAL
NEW DELHI: In a case involving money laundering, the Supreme Court of India granted bail to former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji on Thursday. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) detained Balaji in the previous year. Judges Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih's bench imposed stringent requirements on Balaji's release.
Following arguments from senior counsel Mukul Rohatagi and Sidharth Luthra for Balaji and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for the ED, the Supreme Court rendered its ruling.
Balaji had already had his bail application denied by the high court, which reasoned that granting him bail would "send out the wrong signal and be against the larger public interest."
The court stated that it would be appropriate for the special court to accelerate the case because Balaji had been detained for more than eight months.
The Principal Special Court in Chennai was given a three-month deadline by the high court to finish the trial. The directive stated, "The Principal Special Court in Chennai shall dispose of the case within three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order."
The trial will continue every day under the directives of the Supreme Court.
On June 14 of last year, Balaji was taken into custody on charges that he had participated in a cash-for-jobs scheme while serving as the transport minister in a previous AIADMK government.
On August 12 of last year, the ED issued a 3,000-page charge sheet against him.
On October 19, the high court denied Balaji's prior bail application. Additionally, three times a local court has rejected his bail petitions.