Senthil Balaji Case: In Chennai, the High Court has decided to continue the hearing for Senthil Balaji’s bail request until today afternoon. This decision was made to allow time for the enforcement department to present its arguments. Senthil Balaji, a minister, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on June 14 last year. He was taken into custody under the Unlawful Money Transfer Prohibition Act. This action was based on allegations of involvement in money laundering related to claims of securing a job within the State Transport Corporation.
Due to poor health, Senthil Balaji had heart surgery and was sent to Puzhal Central Jail in Chennai. His stay there has been extended 19 times, with the latest extension until February 15 (today). He has been in Puzhal Jail for over eight months now. In August last year, the Enforcement Directorate filed a charge sheet along with 3000 pages of documents against Senthil Balaji in the Principal Sessions Court of Madras regarding this case.
In this situation, Senthil Balaji, who is currently in Puzhal Jail, made three requests to the Principal Sessions Court of Madras for bail. Unfortunately, the judge dismissed all three petitions. After this, Minister Senthil Balaji submitted a request to the Madras High Court. In his request, he stated that he was still experiencing health issues, even after his surgery, and had not fully recovered. When the case was brought before Judge Jayachandran on October 19, the request for bail on medical grounds was not approved.
Senthil Balaji’s brother is missing, and there are concerns about potential witness tampering, leading to the denial of his bail request. In response, Senthil Balaji applied for bail in the Supreme Court. His request for bail on medical grounds was heard by Judge Bela M. Trivedi in November last year.
During the session, the court requested the latest medical reports related to Senthil Balaji for review. After examining the reports, the Supreme Court judges concluded that Senthil Balaji’s health issues could be managed with medication, and they were not convinced by the medical reasons provided.
The judges emphasized that bail could only be considered based on the merits of the case and not solely on medical grounds. In light of this, Senthil Balaji’s legal team chose to withdraw the bail request.
When Senthil Balaji submitted his bail request, the enforcement department claimed that a significant amount of money was suddenly deposited into his designated bank account during 2016-17. Additionally, there were questions regarding the source of these funds.
Regarding the investigation, it was revealed that a pen drive seized from Senthil Balaji’s residence contained crucial information. However, specific details about who recovered the money and the exact amount recovered from the pen drive were not provided in the available information.
All the details, including names and addresses, were found on the pen drive seized from Senthil Balaji’s house. However, his brother, Ashok, remains missing. Due to this, some concerns about granting bail to Senthil Balaji could hinder the investigation.
Senthil Balaji’s second bail petition in the High Court was heard once more by Justice N. Anand Venkatesh. Previously, when his bail requests were denied, the judge expressed concerns that his position as a minister might lead to the destruction of evidence. This indicates the seriousness of the allegations against Senthil Balaji and the potential impact of his release on the ongoing investigation.
Also Read: Minister Ponmudi Disproportionate Assets Case, 3 Years Of Prison, See Details
During the hearing on January 30, Justice Anand Venkatesh raised concerns about the prolonged detention of Senthil Balaji in connection with the criminal case. He noted that typically, a shopkeeper is suspended from their duties if they spend 48 hours in jail due to a criminal case. However, Senthil Balaji has been in jail for over 243 days without suspension from his ministerial position. This raised questions about why he was allowed to remain in office without any portfolio and what message the Tamil Nadu government was trying to convey.
In response to the situation, Senthil Balaji resigned from his ministerial post on Monday. This move prompted speculation about whether he would now be eligible for bail. However, Senthil Balaji continues to await the conclusion of his prison term.
Meanwhile, the Enforcement Department submitted a reply to the case, expressing concerns about Senthil Balaji’s potential influence on witnesses if granted bail. They argued that his prolonged imprisonment was delaying the investigation and emphasized the need to proceed against him. The Primary Sessions Court, High Court, and Supreme Court have all acknowledged the presence of evidence in the case against Senthil Balaji.
Senthil Balaji’s brother, Ashok Kumar, who is also implicated in the case, is still missing. The Enforcement Department rebutted Senthil Balaji’s claim that he tampered with documents, asserting it as false. They argued that due to these circumstances, Senthil Balaji’s bail request should be denied, and the investigation should be expedited.
During yesterday’s proceedings, senior advocate Aryama Sundaram represented Senthil Balaji and presented his arguments. Sundaram countered the Enforcement Department’s argument that Senthil Balaji’s position as a minister could influence witnesses, stating that this concern is no longer applicable as Senthil Balaji has resigned from his ministerial post. He emphasized the need for Senthil Balaji to be granted bail.
Following Sundaram’s presentation, the High Court ordered that the hearing be adjourned until today to allow the Enforcement Department to present its arguments. This indicates that the court is taking into consideration both sides of the case before deciding on Senthil Balaji’s bail request.
Also Read: Vetri Duraisamy Death: What Really Happened to Vetri Duraisamy?
