Madras High Court refuses to grant medical bail to V Senthil Balaji in money laundering case

The Madras High Court on Thursday dismissed a medical bail plea filed by Tamil Nadu minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader V Senthil Balaji who was arrested in June in a money laundering case..Justice G Jayachandran dismissed the medical bail plea saying that there was every chance that once out on bail, Balaji might try to influence witnesses. "The Line of judgments on either side taken into consideration. The health report of the petitioner does not appear to be a medical condition which could be taken care only if he is released on bail. That apart, his past conduct, his present position as Minister without Portfolio and the abscondence of his brother Mr. Ashok Kumar, coupled with the attack on the Income Tax Officials, all cumulatively leads to an irresistible conclusion that, certainly, he will directly and indirectly influence or cause deterrence to witnesses, if released on bail," the High Court said..Balaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case on June 14 this year..In his plea filed through Senior Counsel NR Elango, Balaji urged the Court to consider the ill health that he had suffered ever since the ED raid at his office and his subsequent bypass surgery.The minister also said that the ED’s apprehension that he was likely to tamper with evidence once out on bail, was baseless as all evidence in the case was documentary in nature..Special Public Prosecutor N Ramesh and Additional Solicitor General ARL Sundaresan, who appeared for ED, opposed Balaji’s plea saying that the minister had already been given all necessary medical aid at the Puzhal Central Prison where he is in judicial custody..The case against Balaji stems from alleged irregularities in the appointment of bus conductors in the Tamil Nadu transport department, as well as the appointment of drivers and junior engineers.Balaji was arrested on June 14 after undergoing questioning by the ED in a money laundering case. The charges are from the time of his tenure as the transport minister during the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government from 2011 to 2015.Following his June 14 arrest by the ED, Balaji was remanded to judicial custody on the same day. However, he was later admitted to a State-run hospital by the ED after he complained of chest pain and uneasiness after his arrest.He was then shifted to a private hospital where he underwent a bypass surgery. He was thereafter sent to prison.On September 20, a Chennai sessions court rejected his bail plea. Earlier, the Supreme Court had also declined to order Balaji's release on two pleas moved by Balaji and his wife, S Megala, after the couple failed to get any relief from the Madras High Court. .[Read Order]