The Madras High Court on Wednesday dismissed the bail application filed by former Tamil Nadu minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader V Senthil Balaji, arrested last year by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a case of money laundering.
Justice N Anand Venkatesh, however, said that since Balaji has been in prison for almost eight months, the special court should conduct the trial on a "day to day basis" and complete the same within three months.
Justice Venkatesh dismissed the bail application saying that it was devoid of merits and that it made more sense for the former minister to instead go before the special court for trial.
Appearing for the arrested minister, Senior Advocate C Aryama Sundaram had earlier told the Court that the ED had already completed its investigation in the case and had all the documents and evidence it needed. Therefore, Balaji’s custody was not required further.
Special Public Prosecutor N Ramesh opposed the bail application saying that Balaji being an influential person was likely to influence witnesses if let out on bail.
Justice Venkatesh agreed with ED's submissions.
The judge said that even though Balaji had resigned from his post of a State minister eight months after his arrest, he continued to be an MLA of the ruling DMK party in Tamil Nadu.
"It was contended that the petitioner has resigned from his position as a Minister and therefore, the apprehension that he will tamper with the evidence and influence the witnesses, no longer subsists. This Court is not able to agree with this submission. The petitioner resigned from the post of Minister without a portfolio just one day prior to the hearing of this bail petition. The fact that the petitioner continued to hold the position as a Minister for nearly eight months and that to without a portfolio when he was inside the jail, shows the tremendous influence of the petitioner and the importance that is given to him by the State Government. Even if the petitioner had resigned from his position as a Minister, he continues as a MLA belonging to the same party which is running the Government in the State of Tamil Nadu and therefore, without any hesitation, this Court holds that the petitioner continues to wield a lot of influence on the Government. When such is the position, the witnesses who are mostly the officials belonging to the MTC and the prospective job seekers who had paid the money, will be influenced/tampered with," the High Court said.
Balaji was arrested on June 14, 2023 after undergoing questioning by the ED in a money laundering case. The charges are from the time of his tenure as transport minister for the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government from 2011 to 2015.
His bail application was rejected by a sessions court in Chennai on three previous occasions. His medical bail plea too was rejected by the High Court in October last year.
[Read Order]