Supreme Court Accepts Senthil Balaji’s Resignation as Minister
Supreme Court Accepts Senthil Balaji’s Resignation
The Supreme Court has accepted the resignation of Senthil Balaji as a Minister in the Tamil Nadu government. This comes after the court warned Balaji last week that he would have to choose between his ministerial post and his freedom. Balaji had been granted bail in a money laundering case related to the ‘cash-for-jobs’ scam.
The court had previously expressed concern about Balaji continuing as a Minister while facing charges. A witness in the case had alleged that Balaji was trying to influence the trial using his position. The Enforcement Directorate also filed an application to recall his bail.
Balaji’s Resignation and the Court’s Decision
Following the court’s warning, Balaji resigned from his post late yesterday night. Today, the Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta, representing the Enforcement Directorate, urged the court to impose a condition that Balaji not become a Minister again while the case is pending. Mehta argued that this was necessary to prevent Balaji from potentially using his influence to obstruct the trial.
The court, however, observed that since Balaji had already resigned, there was no need to entertain the application. They also declined to issue any directions regarding the speedy trial of the predicate case, despite the Enforcement Directorate’s contention that Balaji was delaying the proceedings.
Background of the Case
In September 2024, the Supreme Court granted bail to Balaji despite finding a prima facie case against him. The court cited his long incarceration and the likelihood of a delay in the trial. However, the court expressed surprise when Balaji was appointed as a Cabinet Minister shortly after his release in December 2024.
The Enforcement Directorate raised concerns about Balaji’s influence on witnesses and potential intimidation of victims. The court subsequently directed the state government to provide details about the pending cases against Balaji and the number of witnesses involved.
