Supreme Court declines ED’s plea to bar Senthilbalaji from holding any office till completion of trial

Supreme Court rejects plea to bar DMK leader Senthilbalaji from power in Tamil Nadu amid money-laundering case trial.

The Supreme Court on Monday (April 28, 2025) did not entertain a plea by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) to bar Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MLA V. Senthilbalaji from holding any ministerial or other “positions of power” in the State of Tamil Nadu till the trial in a money-laundering case linked to a cash-for-jobs ‘scam’ was completed.

The Bench of Justices A.S. Oka and A.G. Masih found “no basis in the apprehension” of the ED and the complainant, K. Vidhya Kumar, that Mr. Senthilbalaji would again return to a position of power in the State “in a month”.

The court took on record a press release issued by the Tamil Nadu Governor stating that Mr. Senthilbalaji’s resignation had been accepted by the Raj Bhavan. The Supreme Court had last week given Mr. Senthilbalaji an ultimatum to either choose between his post or his freedom.

Mr. Senthilbalaji was appointed as the Tamil Nadu Minister of Electricity, Prohibition and Excise on September 29, 2024, just two days after the apex court championed his right to personal liberty to grant him bail in the money laundering case on the ground that he had spent 15 months in prison as an undertrial.

The ED had moved the apex court against the appointment, seeking a recall of the September 26 bail order. On December 2, the court decided to examine the narrow aspect of Mr. Senthilbalaji’s appointment as Cabinet Minister and its impact on witnesses. The court had, however, refused to interfere with the bail.

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On Monday, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for the ED, voiced the apprehension that Mr. Senthilbalaji may again try for a shot at ministership or “some other position of power” in the State. He should be barred from assuming any position of power till the trial was concluded, the top law officer urged the court. “Otherwise, what would happen to the trial if he comes back to power after the next elections in 2026?” Mr. Mehta asked.