Ex-Tamil Nadu minister gets bail, Supreme Court cites delay in trial

The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji in connection with a money laundering case, saying that stringent conditions on bail and delay in prosecution cannot go together.
A bench comprising Justices AS Oka and AG Masih put onerous conditions, while granting relief to Balaji, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in June last year in a money laundering case linked to a cash-for-jobs scam.
“What we have said is that stringent and higher threshold of bail and delay in prosecution cannot go together. Bail has been granted, but there are very onerous conditions put in the bail,” the bench said.
Balaji had approached the Supreme Court with his bail petition after the Madras High Court dismissed his plea on February 28.
The Supreme Court had reserved its verdict on August 12 after hearing submissions from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the ED, and senior advocates Mukul Rohatagi and Sidharth Luthra, appearing for Balaji.
The Madras High Court, while dismissing Balaji’s bail plea, had said if he is let out on bail in a case of this nature, it would send out a wrong signal and be against larger public interest.
It had said since the petitioner was in custody for more than eight months, it would be appropriate to direct the special court to dispose of the case within a timeframe.
The High Court also ordered that the trial shall be conducted on a day-to-day basis in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin welcomed the Supreme Court’s judgment and accused the ED of being a “department of suppression of political opponents”.
“Even during the Emergency, no one was put in jail for so many days. Political conspiracies continued for 15 months. By arresting him and keeping him in jail, they wanted to break the resolve of my brother Senthil Balaji. I welcome Senthil Balaji, who is coming out of prison. Your sacrifice is great! Assurance is greater than that!” he tweeted.
On June 14 last year, the ED had arrested Balaji in a money laundering case linked to the cash-for-jobs scam when he was the transport minister in the earlier AIADMK regime.
The case is related to alleged irregularities in the appointment of bus conductors in the Tamil Nadu transport department and the appointment of drivers and junior engineers.
Eight months after his arrest, Balaji resigned from the Tamil Nadu Cabinet on February 13.
On August 12 last year, the ED had filed a 3,000-page chargesheet against Balaji in the case, alleging that the former minister had conspired with his brother and officials of the transport department to accept bribes from job aspirants.
On October 19 last year, the Madras High Court had dismissed Balaji’s earlier bail plea. A local court had also dismissed his bail petitions thrice.