Supreme Court to hear Senthilbalaji’s plea to relax bail conditions on December 1

The Supreme Court on Friday posted for December 1 a plea by former Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthilbalaji to relax his bail conditions in a money-laundering case related to an alleged cash-for-job scam.

A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and sought a response.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, for the former Minister, said his client was seeking modification of a condition requiring him to mark his attendance every Monday and Friday between 11 a.m. and noon in the office of Deputy Director of the ED in Chennai and to appear before police officers investigating three scheduled offences on the first Saturday of every month.

Mr. Sibal said the second bail condition mandated his client to be present before the courts dealing with scheduled offences as well as the special court. He contended that the investigation had been concluded, and the chargesheet had been filed in the ED case.

Mr. Sibal said Mr. Senthilbalaji had already appeared 116 times before the Central agency ever since he got bail on September 26, 2024.

“During this period, I have never absconded and appeared before the ED officers as directed by the court,” he submitted.

However, advocate Zoheb Hussain, appearing for the ED, argued that the former Minister could still influence witnesses in the case.

“These conditions have ensured smooth conduct and progress of the trial in the case,” he contended and opposed the plea.