The Supreme Court awarded the bail to Tamil Nadu to Minister V. Senthilbalaji in case of washing money associated with fraud “fraud” cash for the workplace, 26 September 2025 | Photo Credit: R. Ragu
On Wednesday (April 23, 2025), the Supreme Court took a strict exception to the continuation of Tamil over the Minister of Electricity, a ban on V. Senthilbalaji in the cabinet, while bail in money laundering is related to cash fraud, and choose between post and freedom. “
The bench of judges as an eye and assumed Bhuyan was on the verge of passing the provisional order, but was convinced by higher defenders of the chapels Sibal and Mukul Rohatgi and advocate Ram Shanker, who appeared for the Minister to give Senthilbalajim to Monday to Monday.
The justice of the eye noted that the bench would even record in the order that it was a “mistake” to give him a bail. The judge pointed out that Mr. Senthilbalaji was not a minister at the time of the bail. He got a bail not based on the merit of the case, but because the court stood up for the fundamental right to personal freedom pursuant to Article 21 of the Constitution.
Also read | Minister TN Senthilbalaji responds to ED accusations in case of fraud fraud
The Court of Justice said that the continuation of Mr. Senthilbalaji as a minister put him in the position of influence with regard to witnesses, and could derail the court proceedings.
The justice of the eye stated that the Top Court published Mr. Senthilbalaji on bail in September 2024, despite the judgment of the court in 2022, which clearly describes how Mr. Senthilbalaji used his position as “calling” with key witnesses in the case.
“It turns out that you have disrupted the predicate crime, and now you have been named the Minister within two days of bail. You have now returned to your earlier position of power … You have been given a deposit not based on merit but only on Article 21 … The justice of the eye asked.
The bench called Mr. Senthilbalaji’s behavior as “dishonest”. “You are playing with the law process. You have made a mockery of the law,” the justice of the eye said.
The judge stated that the court had harassed the greater question of the powerful people using Article 21 to gain bail only to abuse their freedom.
“We ignored the strong statements made in our judgment (2022) on the basis of your submission, then you were no longer a minister. We are shocked if it is the result of a court that is in line with Article 21,” the judge noted.
Mr. Sibal said there was no chance of interference with the court. “Even if he wasn’t the minister, he could still influence … There are people who are not ministers, but who can still have an impact,” said the lawyer.
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The leading advisor stated that there was no progress in the proceedings. The duration of the current government in the state ends in 2026.
“There is no witness to the box,” Mr. Sibal said.
“You will ensure that no witness comes into the box,” the justice of the eye.
When Mr. Sibal suggested that the court should be moved from the state, the judge of the eye said it would not solve the problem.
Finally, the court agreed with Mr. Sibal to plan another hearing on Monday at 2 pm, stating that by then the election would be made and handed over to the court. He assured the court that his party in this case did not even represent any other arguments.
Attorney General Tushar Mehta for enforcement Directorate (ED) stated that it was the fourth time when the Minister took the time to decide.
Ed said that Mr. Senthilbalaji could use his office to potential influence of witnesses in this case. The complainant K. Vidhyakumar also reflected concern. Ed and Mr. Vidhyakumar were looking for an appeal on bail.
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In his recent honorary statement, Mr. Senthilbalaji claimed that his appointment had not violated any deposit conditions, nor was it contrary to any law.
“There is also no whisper of violation of any deposit that interferes with the Supreme Court. It can also be noted that the assumption for the cancellation of the deposit, as it is settled, is that any case must be explicitly violated by the accused.”
The Minister said that ED fears were not based on any convincing material. Mr. Vidhyakumar was not even witnessing the court. Mr. Senthilbalaji questioned Mr. Vidhyakumar’s locus.
“Furthermore, it would seem that this application has submitted, for example, a political opposition, which is clear from the fact that since 2021 it has submitted continuous requests for the Implead and has participated in various rounds of litigation,” the honorary statement said.
The Minister argued that if his alleged influence were so “strong”, the prosecution would not be launched and continued. After suffering for more than 15 months, he secured the bail.
He said the court was in a nascent phase. There were more than 2,200 accused persons and more than 500 witnesses. He called on an attempt to imprison him for a long time.
Mr. Senthilbalaji is accused of playing the “central and key roles” in accepting the commission for jobs in the Metropolitan Transport Company in Chennai and Tamil Nadu State Corporation during his earlier operation of the Minister of Transport.
Published – April 23 2025 06:34
