New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate has sought cancellation of bail granted to Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji, granted by the top court earlier in September, in a money laundering case related to the cash-for-job scam, accusing him of having deliberately attempted to delay the trial court proceedings.
The ED has filed the affidavit in a plea filed by one of the victims seeking cancellation of bail granted to Balaji on the ground that witnesses will be under pressure in the case after his appointment as a minister.
Balaji has violated direction given by apex court by seeking adjournments on frivolous grounds: ED
The ED has said that the ongoing examination of prosecution witnesses in the trial of the money laundering case has been derailed on account of Balaji moving applications after his release from jail seeking copies of digital records and seeking change of counsel in the midst of trial. This blatant disregard for the top court’s instructions is a clear attempt to procrastinate and delay the trial proceedings and he has violated the direction given by the top court by seeking adjournments on nonexistent or frivolous grounds or creating hurdles in the early disposal of the cases.
“The aforementioned facts unequivocally demonstrate V Senthil Balaji’s blatant disregard for the judicial process and his deliberate attempts to delay the trial. Despite this court’s (apex court) directive to expedite the trial, V Senthil Balaji has drawn out the cross examination of PW- 4 on one pretext or another for nearly two months,” the ED said.
Some of the key witnesses earlier worked under Balaji when he was transport minister: ED
The ED has also said that some of the key witnesses cited in the chargesheet are individuals who earlier worked under the supervision of Balaji during his tenure as transport minister and “This proximity between V Senthil Balaji and the employees of the transport corporation raises serious concerns about potential influence and impartiality in fair and effective trial now that V Senthil Balaji has reassumed office as a minister.”
Apex Court on September 26 granted bail to Balaji in money laundering case
The apex court had on September 26 granted bail to Balaji in the money laundering case after over 15 months, noting there was no possibility of the completion of trial of the case in the near future. Balaji was sworn in as a minister in the Tamil Nadu cabinet again on September 29 following grant of bail by the top court and his release from the jail.
Apex Court earlier this month agreed to examine if witnesses against Balaji under pressure after he was made minister
The apex court had on December 2, while hearing the plea filed by one of the victims seeking cancellation of Balaji’s bail, expressed its concern on he being appointed a minister in the Tamil Nadu government just days after being granted bail in the money laundering case and agreed to examine the plea seeking cancellation of bail.
The bench, however, had made it clear that it would not interfere with its September 26 order granting bail to Balaji in the money laundering case and had said that it it would not issue any notice on the plea seeking cancellation of bail granted to him but limit the scope of enquiry to whether the witnesses in the case would be “under pressure” to depose in the case.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Friday (December 13) told a bench comprising Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Pankaj Mithal that it needs to file an affidavit in the matter as Balaji has been sabotaging the trial of the case and the bench allowed the central agency to file the affidavit.
The matter would be heard on December 18.
