Senthil Balaji, Madras High Court
The Madras High Court on Wednesday dismissed the bail application filed by former DMK minister V Senthil Balajiarrested last year by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a case of money laundering.
Justice Anand Venkateshhowever, noted that Senthil Balaji had been in prison for almost eight months. Therefore, he directed the special court to conduct the trial on a “day to day basis”, aiming to complete it within three months.
Justice Venkatesh dismissed the bail application saying that it was devoid of merits and that it made more sense for the former minister to instead go before the special court for trial.
Appearing for the arrested minister, Senior Advocate C Aryama Sundaram had earlier told the Court that the ED had already completed its investigation in the case and had all the documents and evidence it needed. Therefore, Balaji’s custody was not required further.
Special Public Prosecutor N Ramesh opposed the bail application.
Senthil Balaji was arrested on June 14 after undergoing questioning by the ED in a money laundering case. The charges are from the time of his tenure as transport minister for the AIADMK government from 2011 to 2015.
His bail application has been rejected by a sessions court in Chennai on three previous occasions. His medical bail plea was rejected by the High Court in October last year.
