New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday reserved its verdict on a plea filed by former Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji seeking bail in a money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
A bench comprising Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih reserved verdict after hearing submissions from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, and senior advocates Mukul Rohatagi and Sidharth Luthra, appearing for Balaji.
What did Balaji, ED submit before the apex court?
Rohatagi, while urging the court to grant Balaji bail in the case, submitted that he is in jail for over a year and there is no prospect of the trial in the case getting completed anytime soon.
Mehta opposed Balaji’s plea seeking bail, submitting that the delay in the trial of the case is attributable to the former minister.
After hearing the submissions, the top court bench reserved its order.
Madras High Court earlier dismissed Balaji’s bail plea in money laundering case
Balaji has moved the apex court against an order of the Madras High Court dismissing his plea seeking grant of bail, saying if he is released on bail in a case of this nature, it will send a wrong signal and it will be against larger public interest.
The High Court, while rejecting the bail plea of Balaji, had directed the trial court to dispose of the case against him within a time frame and to conduct the trial in the case on a day-to-day basis in accordance with the guidelines of the apex court.
A Chennai court last week framed charges against Balaji in money laundering case
A Chennai court last week framed charges against Balaji in the money laundering case under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Balaji was arrested by the ED on June 14 last year in the money laundering case connected to a cash-for-jobs scam when he was the transport minister of the state of Tamil Nadu during an earlier AIADMK government.
The ED filed the chargesheet against Balaji in the money laundering case on August 12 last year.