NEW DELHI: In a big relief to former Tamil Nadu minister and DMK leader V Senthil Balaji, the Supreme Court on Thursday granted him bail in connection with a money laundering case, arising out of cash for jobs scam.
He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in June, 2023 after a nod from the Supreme Court.
"We have granted bail with onerous conditions," a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih said, pronouncing the judgment.
The court said it has referred to Najeeb and other judgements while granting him bail.
"What we have said is that stringent and higher threshold of bail and delay in prosecution cannot go together. We have slightly expanded the scope in Najeeb and bail granted but there are very onerous conditions put in the bail," the bench said.
On August 12, the court had reserved the judgment in the matter.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for the Enforcement Directorate, and senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Sidharth Luthra, for Balaji presented their arguments.
Rohatgi contended that the petitioner has been in jail for more than a year and there was no possibility of completion of trial anytime soon, and his client had also undergone surgery.
He also said the allegations are that Balaji is influential, but now he is no longer holding the portfolio.
Opposing the plea for grant of bail by the DMK leader, Mehta said the delay in trial was attributable to the ex-minister.
Rohatgi said the case involved thousands of witnesses and there was no threat to any of them.
He also refuted the possibility of tampering of evidence.
Countering the submission, Mehta said petitioner's brother was absconding and there have been evidence to show that cash was deposited in his account.
He also claimed that the petitioner has been winning over the witnesses and the victims.
Mehta said mere incarceration of one year and a potential danger of delay in trial may not be good grounds to release him.
Balaji challenged the Madras High Court order, which dismissed his bail plea in October last year.
The High Court had said that he was likely to influence witnesses if enlarged on bail and also from the health report of Balaji, it did not appear to be a medical condition, which could be taken care of only if he was released on bail.
In June 2023, the ED arrested Balaji after an approval from the Supreme Court in connection with a money laundering case linked to a cash-for-jobs scam when he was the transport minister during the AIADMK regime.
Advocates Balaji Srinivasan and Neha Rathi also opposed the bail on behalf of the complainants.
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