Today(30th Sept), Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji, released on bail from Puzhal prison, appeared in court for a money laundering case, with the next hearing scheduled for October 4. The Enforcement Directorate submitted a counter affidavit regarding Balaji’s petition for details of bank officials involved in the investigation.
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CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji, recently released from Puzhal prison, appeared before a sessions court in Chennai today(30th Sept), marking his first court appearance after being granted bail by the Supreme Court. The case pertains to an ongoing investigation into a money laundering charge linked to a cash-for-jobs scam during his tenure as the state’s transport minister.
The hearing took place in front of Principal Sessions Judge S Karthikeyan. The judge decided to schedule the next hearing for October 4, allowing more time for the case to proceed. Senthil Balaji, who was granted bail last week by the Supreme Court after being arrested in June 2023, is accused of being involved in a money laundering case connected to the alleged cash-for-jobs scam that occurred while he served as Tamil Nadu’s transport minister from 2011 to 2015.
When the case was presented in court, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which had initially arrested Balaji, submitted its counter-affidavit regarding the petition filed by the minister. This petition requested information on the bank officials who were employed during the period in question, referred to as the “check period.”
Special Public Prosecutor N Ramesh, representing the Enforcement Directorate, argued against the petition, stating-
“The petition submitted by Senthil Balaji is not valid. The petitioner is attempting to prolong the proceedings; therefore, the court should consider dismissing the petition.”
Ramesh’s argument highlighted that the minister’s request for information about bank officials was an attempt to delay the court’s decision. The ED insisted that this information was not relevant to the immediate progression of the case, seeking the court’s dismissal of the petition.
In response, Advocate Gouthaman, representing Senthil Balaji, strongly defended the petition.
He stated-
“The petition is valid, as the details of the bank officials are pertinent to the case.”
Gouthaman emphasized that these details are crucial to the money laundering case, and therefore, urged the court to instruct the ED to provide the necessary information on the bank officials.
He added-
“Consequently, the court may instruct the ED to furnish the details of the bank officials.”
The hearing also brought to light concerns regarding a key witness for the case. Ramesh informed the court that Manivanan, an Assistant Director from the Forensic Science Computer Department, who had been examined by the prosecution on September 19, failed to appear before the court for further cross-examination on September 26.
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He stated-
“Manivanan did not turn up even on Monday for cross-examination,”
adding that the absence was due to the witness’s health issues.
Given the importance of the witness’s testimony, Judge Karthikeyan ordered a witness warrant to be issued for Manivanan, ensuring his presence for cross-examination in the next hearing on October 4.
V Senthil Balaji’s arrest took place on June 14, 2023, following a detailed investigation by the Enforcement Directorate. The case is tied to a cash-for-jobs scam that allegedly took place when Balaji was the state’s transport minister under the AIADMK government from 2011 to 2015. The scam allegedly involved financial transactions linked to securing jobs for individuals in exchange for bribes.
The Enforcement Directorate, responsible for probing financial crimes, claims that Balaji played a crucial role in the money laundering scheme. As a result, he has faced significant scrutiny, culminating in his arrest earlier this year.
On August 12, 2023, the ED filed a detailed charge sheet spanning over 3,000 pages against Balaji. This charge sheet is a comprehensive compilation of the evidence gathered during their investigation, which includes financial records, witness testimonies, and forensic data. The case against Balaji, therefore, involves an exhaustive investigation that has placed him at the center of the cash-for-jobs scam controversy.
Last week, after spending months in Puzhal prison, Senthil Balaji was released on bail by the Supreme Court. The court’s decision came after multiple appeals by Balaji’s legal team, who argued that the minister had been wrongfully detained and that the charges against him were politically motivated. However, despite the bail, the minister still faces a lengthy legal battle ahead as the money laundering case unfolds.
