The Supreme Court allowed the investigation against Tamil Nadu Electricity, Excise, and Prohibition Minister V. Senthil Balaji in the cash-for-job scam of 2011-15 by the police and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
According to IANS, a Supreme Court bench of Justices Krishna Murari and V Ramasubramanian said that an offense of corruption, criminal activity and the generation of the proceeds of crime are like Siamese twins.
"Even if an intangible property is derived as a result of criminal activity relating to a scheduled offense, it becomes proceeds of crime under Section 2(1)(u)... we are not impressed with the contention that the investigation by ED was triggered without any foundational/jurisdictional facts."
In an 89-page judgment on behalf of the bench, Justice Ramasubramanian said, In our view, the allegations in the FIR point out to (i) involvement of persons in criminal activity relating to scheduled offences; (ii) the generation as well as (iii) laundering of the proceeds of crime within the meaning of Section 3. This is in view of the fact that wherever there are allegations of corruption, there is the acquisition of proceeds of crime which itself tantamount to money-laundering."
The Supreme Court also set aside the Madras High Court order directing to wipe out the investigation. The top court said: "The Investigation Officer shall proceed with further investigation in all cases by including the offences under the PC (Prevention of Corruption) Act. Any let up on the part of the Investigation Officer in this regard will pave the way for this Court to consider appointing a Special Investigation Team in the future."
The cash-for-job scam pertains to a case filed by one Arulmani in 2018 alleging that the then Transportation Minister Senthil Balaji took bribes from job aspirants on the false promise of providing them jobs in Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC).
(With IANS inputs)