SUPREME COURT DECLINES ED'S PLEA TO BAR SENTHILBALAJI FROM HOLDING ANY OFFICE TILL COMPLETION OF TRIAL

Bench of Justices A.S. Oka and A.G. Masih found 'no basis in the apprehension' of the ED and the complainant, K. Vidhya Kumar, that the T.N Minister would again return to a position of power in the State 'in a month'

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The Supreme Court on Monday (April 28, 2025) did not entertain a plea by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) to bar Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MLA V. Senthilbalaji from holding any ministerial or other “positions of power” in Tamil Nadu till the trial in a money-laundering case linked to a cash-for-jobs ‘scam’ was completed.

The Bench of Justices A.S. Oka and A.G. Masih found “no basis in the apprehension” of the ED and the complainant, K. Vidhya Kumar, that Mr. Senthilbalaji would again return to a position of power in the State “in a month”.

Tamil Nadu Ministers Senthilbalaji, Ponmudy quit after strong court remarks

The court took on record a press release issued by the Tamil Nadu Governor stating that Mr. Senthilbalaji’s resignation had been accepted by the Raj Bhavan. The Supreme Court had last week given Mr. Senthilbalaji an ultimatum to either choose between his post or his freedom.

Mr. Senthilbalaji was appointed as the Tamil Nadu Minister of Electricity, Prohibition and Excise on September 29, 2024, just two days after the apex court championed his right to personal liberty to grant him bail in the money laundering case on the ground that he had spent 15 months in prison as an undertrial.