SC refuses to entertain Senthilbalaji’s plea seeking bail on health grounds

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain the bail plea of DMK minister V Senthil Balaji, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case.

Balaji was seeking the bail on health grounds. The top court was hearing an appeal against an order of the Madras High Court which dismissed his bail plea on October 19, saying he was likely to influence witnesses if enlarged on bail.

An apex court bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and SC Sharma, after perusing the health reports, said there was nothing serious in his health condition and granted liberty to Balaji to approach the trial court to seek regular bail.

Supreme Court declines to grant bail to #TamilNadu minister and #DMK leader #VSenthilBalaji, who was arrested by the #EnforcementDirectorate in a money laundering case, on health grounds.#SupremeCourt #ED #Moneylaunderingscam pic.twitter.com/Y9hk3CWj7h

— DT Next (@dt_next) November 28, 2023

“Any observation made in the interim order against the petitioner on merits shall not come in the way of the petitioner in filing regular bail application,” the bench said.

As the bench expressed disinclination to entertain the matter, the plea was withdrawn and the matter was dismissed as withdrawn.

The top court had earlier directed Balaji to place on record his medical reports.

While dismissing the bail plea, the high court had said from the health report of Balaji it did not appear to be a medical condition which could be taken care of only if he was released on bail.

Balaji was arrested on June 14 by the ED in connection with a money laundering case linked to a cash-for-jobs scam when he was the Transport Minister during the earlier AIADMK regime.