Supreme Court Eases Bail Conditions for Former Minister in Money Laundering Case

The Supreme Court has relaxed bail conditions for former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji, exempting him from appearing before an ED officer twice a week unless summoned. The court also eased the requirement for him to attend every court hearing, considering his cooperation and the case's progress.

The Supreme Court, on Monday, relaxed stringent bail conditions for former Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji. The court ruled that Balaji is no longer required to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Chennai twice a week unless specifically summoned, providing him some respite in the ongoing legal proceedings.

This decision alters the previous bail conditions that mandated Balaji's presence at every trial court date. Now, if he seeks an exemption from appearing, the presiding officer will assess his plea on its merits. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, emphasized the importance of balancing fair treatment and procedural requirements.

The ED, represented by advocate Zoheb Hussain, expressed concerns about potential witness influence. However, Balaji's legal team, including Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, assured compliance and cooperation with the investigation. The case revolves around a money laundering charge linked to an alleged cash-for-jobs scam dating back to Balaji's tenure as a minister.

(With inputs from agencies.)