In line with bail conditions, ex-TN Minister Senthilbalaji signs at ED office

Chennai: Complying with the bail conditions imposed by the Supreme Court, Former Tamil Nadu Minister V.Senthilbalaji on Friday signed at the office of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The former Minister, arrested on June 14 last year on charges of money laundering in the cash for jobs scam during the previous AIADMK regime, was granted bail by the Apex Court and was released from Puzhal Central prison last night after spending 471 days in prison.

While granting bail, the Apex Court had imposed certain conditions and one of them was that Mr Senthilbalaji should appear before the ED twice a week (Monday and Friday) and sign.

In line with this, he appeared before the ED today morning and signed the register.

Allowing the appeal preferred by the former Minister, the Apex Court said the appellant has been incarcerated for 15 months or more for the offence punishable under the PMLA.

In the facts of the case, the trial of the scheduled offences and consequently, the PMLA offence is not likely to be completed in three to four years or even more.

If the appellant’s detention is continued, it will amount to an infringement of his fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution of India of speedy trial.

The decisions the learned SG relied upon indicate that the appellant’s influential position in the State may have resulted in a so ­called compromise between the bribe givers and the bribe takers.

Considering the apprehension of the appellant tampering with the evidence, stringent conditions must be imposed.

“Therefore, the appeal is allowed, and the appellant shall be enlarged on bail till the final disposal of CC No.9 of 2023 pending before the Principal Session Judge, Chennai, on the following conditions–The appellant shall furnish bail bonds in the sum of Rs.25,00,000/­ with two sureties in the like amount.

The appellant shall not directly or indirectly attempt to contact or communicate with the prosecution witnesses and victims of the three scheduled offences in any manner.

If it is found that the appellant directly or indirectly made even an attempt to contact any prosecution witness or victim in the scheduled as well as offences under the PMLA, it will be a ground to cancel the bail granted to the appellant.

The appellant shall mark his attendance every Monday and Friday between 11 am and 12 noon in the office of the Deputy Director, the Directorate of Enforcement at Chennai. He shall also appear on the first Saturday of every calendar month before the investigating officers of the three scheduled offences.

Before the appellant is enlarged on bail, he shall surrender his passport to the Special Court under the PMLA at Chennai.

The appellant shall regularly and punctually remain present before the Courts dealing with scheduled offences as well as the Special Court and shall cooperate with the Courts for early disposal of cases and if the appellant seeks adjournments on non­existing or frivolous grounds or creates hurdles in the early disposal of the cases mentioned above, the bail granted to him shall be liable to be cancelled.

The appeal is allowed on the above terms, the court said.