The Supreme Court concurred with the judgment of Madras High Court, which had refused to issue a directive for the removal of Senthil Balaji as a Minister in Tamil Nadu. The Apex court also rejected a plea that sought the removal of Balaji as Tamil Nadu Minister. Senthil Balaji was arrested last year in connection with his involvement in a money laundering case.
According to a report on Bar and Bench, a bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan verbally stated that the Governor must have the Chief Minister's recommendation to dismiss a Minister and cannot make an independent decision on the matter.
On September 5, 2023, the High Court refused to issue a directive regarding a series of petitions that raised concerns about the continuation of Balaji as a Minister without portfolio in Tamil Nadu Cabinet.
Last year, Senthil Balaji faced arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case. Allegations against him included his purported involvement in a cash-for-jobs scam during his term as the Transport Minister in the AIADMK-led Tamil Nadu government from 2011 to 2015. Subsequently, he joined the DMK and assumed a ministerial role in 2021.
After being arrested, Senthil Balaji had heart surgery at a private hospital. Then, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned him and later, he was kept in judicial custody. The court regularly extended the time he was in custody as part of the legal process.
Meanwhile, a sessions court in Chennai extended Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji's remand till January 11 on Thursday. Balaji was produced by the prosecution before Principal Sessions Judge S Alli through video-conferencing from the prison. Following this, the judge extended his judicial custody.
On Wednesday, Senthil Balaji moved a seeking petition before a Chennai court. The case has been filed for further hearing on January 8.
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