Madras High Court dismisses jailed T.N. Minister Senthilbalaji’s bail plea made on health grounds

Madras HC denies bail to TN Minister Senthilbalaji in money laundering case. Judge finds him influential, possibility of tampering evidence & influencing witnesses. ASG Sundaresan & Special Public Prosecutor Ramesh for ED cite Minister's brother absconding & attack on IT officials as evidence of potential harm to prosecution.

The Madras High Court on Thursday dismissed a bail petition filed by jailed T.N. Minister V. Senthilbalaji. The petition had been filed solely on health grounds, while the Minister reserved his right to seek bail on merits, when the circumstances so warranted. Mr. Senthilbalaji was arrested in a money laundering case by the Enforcement Directorate on June 14 this year.

Justice G. Jayachandran refused to enlarge the Minister on bail, even on medical grounds, after accepting the contention of the prosecution that he was an influential person and therefore, there was every possibility of him attempting to tamper with the evidence and influence the witnesses if he was let out on bail.

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The judge took into consideration the submissions made by Additional Solicitor General AR.L. Sundaresan, assisted by Special Public Prosecutor N. Ramesh for the ED, that the very fact of the petitioner continuing to be a Minister even after four months of his arrest, was evidence of the influence he wields.

The judge further agreed with the ED that the Minister’s brother V. Ashok Kumar, who has remained absconding till date, coupled with the attack on Income Tax officials when they conducted a search and seizure operation in Ashok Kumar’s premises in Karur in May this year, would indicate that the Minister may cause harm to the prosecution.