Former DMK minister V Senthil Balaji’s bail application has been dismissed by the Madras High Court, following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) last year on charges of money laundering. The court, presided over by Justice N Anand Venkatesh, emphasized that Balaji had already spent nearly eight months in prison. Despite this, the bail plea was deemed devoid of merits. Instead, Justice Venkatesh directed the special court to expedite the trial proceedings, aiming for completion within three months.
During the hearing, Senior Advocate C Aryama Sundaram, representing Senthil Balaji, argued that the ED had concluded its investigation and possessed all necessary documents and evidence. Hence, Balaji’s continued custody was unnecessary. However, Special Public Prosecutor N Ramesh opposed the bail application, leading to its dismissal by the High Court.
Senthil Balaji, who served as the transport minister for the AIADMK government from 2011 to 2015, was arrested on June 14 last year after facing interrogation by the ED in connection with a money laundering case. The allegations stem from his tenure in office.
This isn’t the first time Balaji has sought bail. His plea had been rejected thrice by a sessions court in Chennai prior to this dismissal by the High Court. Additionally, his medical bail plea was also turned down by the same court in October of last year.
The decision by the Madras High Court underscores the seriousness of the charges against Senthil Balaji and the need for a swift trial process. With the directive to expedite proceedings, the court aims to ensure justice is served promptly in this case of alleged financial misconduct.
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