On Thursday, the Madras High Court rejected the bail plea of Senthil Balaji. The Tamil Nadu minister had sought bail on medical grounds but Justice G Jayachandran of the Madras High Court dismissed his plea. Senthil Balaji south bail due to post-surgical issues and lack of proper facilities at the hospital at the Puzhal prison.
The court while dismissing his bail application stated, “The health report of the petitioner (Balaji) does not appear to be a medical condition which could be taken care only if he is released on bail. That apart, his past conduct, his present position as Minister without Portfolio and the abscondence of his brother Mr. Ashok Kumar, coupled with the attack on the Income Tax Officials, all cumulatively leads to an irresistible conclusion that, certainly, he will directly and indirectly influence or cause deterrence to witnesses, if released on bail.”
Previously, the District Sessions Court in Chennai denied the TN minister bail in September while noting that the allegations by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Senthil Balaji were ‘categorical’ and that he had a ‘definite role’ in the offences he was charged with.
Senthil Balaji was arrested on June 14 by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The minister allegedly received money in a cash-for-jobs scam in the State Transport department. Post his arrest he was taken to the Govt Multi-Specialty Hospital at Omandurar Estate and then underwent a heart bypass surgery in a private hospital. Now that the Madras High Court has rejected his bail, Senthil Balaji can approach the Supreme Court on this issue.