Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji withdraws plea for medical bail in cash-for-job ‘scam’ case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthil Balaji to withdraw his petition seeking medical bail in the cash-for-job scam. Justice Bela M. Trivedi, after going through his medical records, orally remarked that Mr. Balaji “seemed to be hale and hearty”. senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, for the Minister, said his condition made him vulnerable to a brain stroke. Mr. Rohatgi said Mr. Balaji was “sick”.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthil Balaji to withdraw his petition seeking medical bail in the cash-for-job scam.

Justice Bela M. Trivedi, after going through his medical records, orally remarked that Mr. Balaji “seemed to be hale and hearty”.

But senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, for the Minister, said his condition made him vulnerable to a brain stroke. Mr. Rohatgi said Mr. Balaji was “sick”.

“Then several inmates in prisons should be sick…” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate (ED), countered.

Mr. Rohatgi said the question was whether the Minister was sick or not. The law only required the undertrial to be “infirm” to exercise his right to seek medical treatment.

Justice Trivedi pointed out that Mr. Balaji was a Minister “without a portfolio”.

“What has that got to do with my plea for bail on medical grounds? I may be a Minister without a portfolio, my brother may be absconding…. My plea is for bail for medical treatment,” Mr. Rohatgi queried.