Tamil Nadu: Supreme Court Orders Restoration Of Crime Branch Probe Against V Senthil Balaji; Also Allows ED To Proceed In The Matter

A Supreme Court bench of Justices Krishna Murari and V Ramasubramanian overturned a Madras High Court order of 31 October 2022 and directed the Crime Branch to continue its probe against Excise and Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji.

It said that the investigation must be completed in two months and if necessary a Special Investigation Team (SIT) could be constituted.

The High Court had ordered a 'de novo', i.e., fresh investigation to be conducted against the minister.

The bench also allowed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to continue its probe against Balaji and others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The High Court had earlier quashed the ED summons.

During his tenure as the transport minister in the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government, Balaji is alleged to have entered into a criminal conspiracy with the then managing directors of all State Transport Undertakings (STUs) and other officers of transport corporations to secure illegal gratification from candidates to recruit them as driver, conductor, junior tradesman, junior assistant, junior engineer and assistant engineer in the transport corporations.

Reacting to the order of the Supreme Court, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president K Annamalai has said that a fair investigation would not be possible as long as Balaji remains a minister and so he should be removed from the Cabinet.