On Wednesday(4th September),The Madras High Court dismissed former TN Minister Senthil Balaji’s plea challenging a sessions court’s refusal to discharge him in a money laundering case under PMLA. The petition was withdrawn after his counsel’s endorsement.
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CHENNAI: On Wednesday(4th September), the Madras High Court dismissed a petition filed by former Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji, who challenged a sessions court’s decision to refuse his discharge from an ongoing money laundering case. The case has drawn widespread attention due to Balaji’s high-profile political role and the severity of the charges.
The petition was dismissed by a division bench comprising Justices S M Subramaniam and V Sivagnanam. The decision to withdraw the petition was made after Balaji’s legal counsel presented an endorsement in court. The court, in its brief order, acknowledged that the criminal revision petition was instituted to challenge the earlier rejection of Balaji’s discharge plea.
Ongoing Criminal Proceedings
The criminal proceedings against V Senthil Balaji have gained traction since his arrest in 2023. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested him on June 14, 2023, in connection with a cash-for-jobs scam that allegedly took place during his tenure as the Tamil Nadu Transport Minister (2011-2015) under the AIADMK government.
Following the arrest, the ED filed a charge sheet that runs over 3,000 pages, indicating the vastness and complexity of the case. The case stems from accusations that Balaji was involved in corrupt practices, accepting bribes in exchange for jobs during his time in office. The charge sheet was submitted on August 12, 2023, and it solidified the accusations made against the DMK leader.
Withdrawal of Petition and Court Observations
In the petition that was filed with the Madras High Court, Balaji had sought relief from the criminal proceedings and aimed to get discharged from the money laundering case. However, it was pointed out during the hearing that substantial progress had already been made in the case.
The court noted that-
“the charges were framed on August 8, 2024,”
signaling that the trial was well underway. Further adding to the urgency of the situation, the court observed that a prosecution witness had already been “examined on August 16” and that the cross-examination process was in progress. Given the developments in the case, it became clear that the legal process was moving forward at a rapid pace.
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Recognizing the progression of the trial, Balaji’s counsel made a submission to the court, stating that-
“Given that the trial had begun, the petitioner chose not to pursue this petition.”
This declaration made it evident that Balaji had decided not to continue with his current petition.
Following this submission, the division bench acknowledged the endorsement from Balaji’s counsel, and the case was dismissed as withdrawn. The court’s order stated-
“An endorsement was filed to withdraw the petition, leading to its dismissal as withdrawn.”
Timeline of Events
- June 14, 2023: V Senthil Balaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the cash-for-jobs scam.
- August 12, 2023: The ED filed a detailed charge sheet spanning 3,000 pages against Balaji.
- August 8, 2024: The Madras High Court noted that the charges against Balaji were formally framed.
- August 16, 2024: A key prosecution witness was examined in court, with the cross-examination process already in progress.
This is not the first time that V Senthil Balaji has encountered legal hurdles in his efforts to fight the charges. Several bail petitions filed by the DMK leader have been dismissed by both the Sessions Court and the Madras High Court. Despite repeated attempts to secure bail, the courts have refused to grant him relief.The Sessions Court and the Madras High Court have remained steadfast in their decisions, with the latter bench remarking on the substantial evidence collected against Balaji in the case.
