Senthil Balaji Leaves Jail Amid Buzz About Becoming A Minister Again
NDTV
Mr Balaji was arrested in June 2023 and resigned as the Tamil Nadu transport minister in February this year.
Former Tamil Nadu transport minister Senthil Balaji left Chennai's Puzhal Central Prison on Thursday evening, hours after the Supreme Court granted him bail, sparking speculation over whether he would be reinducted into the state cabinet.
Mr Balaji had been behind bars for 15 months, accused of money laundering by the Enforcement Directorate for his alleged involvement in the alleged cash-for-jobs scam that occurred during the AIADMK regime under late chief minister J Jayalalithaa.
Although Mr Balaji still has a long legal battle ahead, the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu is celebrating his release as as a moral and legal victory. Hundreds of DMK cadre welcomed the former minister outside the jail with drumbeats, rose petals, crackers, and party flags, sending a message that the party stands with him. The DMK has alleged several times that the ED and other central agencies have been targeting leaders in states ruled by the Opposition, a charge that has been denied by the BJP.
