https://www.barandbench.com/news/one-day-bail-next-day-minister-supreme-court-senthil-balaji

The Supreme Court on Monday questioned how Senthil Balaji was swiftly re-inducted to the Tamil Nadu's cabinet as a State Minister immediately after he was granted bail in the money laundering case pending against him in a recruitment scam case.

A Bench of Justices AS Oka and AG Masih flagged concern that this development may put pressure on witnesses who are slated to give testimony in the money laundering case pending against Balaji.

"This Court grants bail; next day you become Minister?! Anyone will be bound to be under impression that you will put pressure on witnesses. What is going on here?!" the Court remarked.

The Court, however, refused to allow a prayer for the recall of bail granted in September this year to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader.

It added that it would examine whether witnesses would be in a 'frame of mind' to give fair testimony without any pressure against Balaji, considering his reinstatement to the position of a State Cabinet Minister.

The Tamil Nadu government has been asked to respond on this aspect.

Balaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case on June 14, 2023.

The case against him stemmed from alleged irregularities in the appointment of bus conductors in the Tamil Nadu transport department, as well as the appointment of drivers and junior engineers.

The charges are from the time of his tenure as transport minister for the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government from 2011 to 2015.

After the trial court and the Madras High Court rejected his bail petitions, he eventually approached the Supreme Court for bail. On September 24 this year, the top court allowed his release on bail subject to various conditions including a direction that he should not contact or communicate with witnesses.

The Court also ordered him to surrender his passport and cooperate with the trial without seeking adjournments.