The Supreme Court docket on Thursday granted bail to former Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji within the cash laundering case arising out of the alleged money for jobs rip-off.
A bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih at present mentioned that stringent bail provisions and delay in trial can not go collectively.
Balaji moved the highest court docket after the Madras Excessive Court docket had rejected his bail plea. Nevertheless, the excessive court docket additionally directed the Particular Court docket to expedite the trial, contemplating Balaji’s lengthy incarceration.
Senthil Balaji was arrested by the ED in a cash-for-jobs scandal beneath a earlier AIADMK rule when he was answerable for the Transport ministry.
The previous Tamil Nadu minister allegedly formulated a scheme the place his brother and assistants took cash from job seekers in trade for guarantees of employment within the Tamil Nadu Transport Division.
The ED filed an ECIR and arrested him in June 2023, after a number of complaints have been filed by candidates who claimed to have paid substantial quantities however didn’t safe the promised jobs. He was arrested beneath the Prevention of Cash Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA), on costs linked to alleged rip-off.
The previous minister had resigned on February 14, seven months after he was arrested and imprisoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a cash laundering and job rip-off case. Following his arrest, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin had retained him as a minister as a present of assist. Nevertheless, following his extended authorized battle and a number of bail pleas being rejected by decrease courts and excessive court docket, Balaji resigned in February after a number of questions have been raised over why he was being retained as a minister within the M Okay Stalin-led Cupboard with none portfolio.
In June, 2023, Senthil Balaji was arrested by the ED in a dramatic style. He was taken into custody following hours of questioning and hospitalised instantly after he complained of chest ache.