Chennai: Minister Senthil Balaji’s bail plea has been dismissed by the Madras High Court, further prolonging his stay in judicial custody. The high court’s decision comes after the Madras Principal Sessions Court had already rejected his bail application. In a desperate move, Balaji has now filed an appeal in the Supreme Court.
Minister Senthil Balaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on June 14 in relation to a case involving the Prohibition of Illegal Money Transfer Act. Since then, he has been held in judicial custody at Puzhal Jail. His bail petition was twice denied by the Madras Principal Sessions Court.
Undeterred, Balaji approached the Madras High Court seeking bail. However, his petition was heard by Justice Jayachandran, who deemed his medical reasons for seeking bail unacceptable and waived them. The court also stated that due to his brother absconding and the possibility of discrediting the witness, granting bail was not appropriate. The court further opined that Balaji’s position as a minister could potentially hinder the ongoing investigation. Additionally, there were concerns that he might tamper with the witnesses or dispose of evidence. Another factor was the pending complaint of assault filed against Income Tax officials, which influenced the judge’s decision to deny bail.
In response to the dismissal, Senthil Balaji decided to appeal the high court’s decision in the Supreme Court. He requested an urgent hearing for his petition, hoping for a quick resolution. However, the Supreme Court refused to accommodate his plea and set the trial for October 30.
The legal battle continues for Minister Senthil Balaji, as various courts assess the merits of his bail application. As he remains in judicial custody, the case against him under the Prohibition of Illegal Money Transfer Act proceeds with the hearings set for the end of October.