The Supreme Court of India has given Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji a stark choice: resign or face jail in connection to a money laundering probe linked to a cash-for-jobs scandal during his tenure as transport minister. He was granted bail initially in September 2024 on the condition of no longer holding a ministerial post.
Shortly after, he resumed his ministerial duties, raising concerns about potential influence on witnesses. Justice Oka emphasized that bail was granted for different reasons; any manipulation of the legal process may lead to an acknowledgment of a mistake by the court in overlooking prior judgments.
The Supreme Court didn’t revoke Balaji’s bail but requested him to decide by April 28 whether to step down as a minister or retain the position at the expense of his freedom. “Post or freedom – the choice is yours,” the court indicated during a hearing on a plea to review Balaji’s bail granted on Sep 26, 2024.
K Vidhya Kumar filed a plea expressing concerns that Balaji’s reinstatement as a Cabinet minister after getting bail could impact the trial’s fairness. The Enforcement Directorate, which arrested Balaji on June 14, 2023, supports the plea to cancel his bail. The agency argues that Balaji, even while in jail, wielded political influence, and many trial witnesses are former public servants who reported directly to him.
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