New Delhi, Apr 23 (UNI) In a dramatic turn during the ongoing money laundering case tied to the 2011 cash-for-jobs scam, the Supreme Court on Wednesday issued Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji an ultimatum, either continue as a minister or retain the bail granted to him.

A special bench, comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih, resumed hearing the Enforcement Directorate’s challenge to Balaji’s bail, which was granted in September 2024.

At the time of the bail order, the Court had taken into account that Balaji was no longer a minister, a factor central to its Article 21 analysis regarding prolonged incarceration.

However, with Balaji having resumed his ministerial duties and now serving as the Minister for Electricity, Prohibition, and Excise, the Court expressed strong reservations.

“You are a minister! Look at the findings,” the Bench observed, noting that categorical findings of settlements had been recorded against Balaji in earlier proceedings.

“We had granted bail on totally different grounds. If people are going to play with the process of law like this… we will record in our order that we made a mistake in ignoring the judgment findings against you,” remarked Justice Oka.

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Balaji, argued that the findings were not directly against his client and highlighted the ED’s filing of a supplementary complaint adding 21 accused and 34 witnesses.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, also representing Balaji, suggested moving the trial outside the state, stating, “I’ll never be able to influence anybody.”

But the Court remained unmoved and said, “He had not been granted bail on merits. He had been granted bail on possible violation of Article 21,” the Bench clarified. “What signal are we sending when you hold office of minister?”

In a firm but cautious stance, the Court did not cancel the bail but instead directed Balaji to make his choice clear at the next hearing scheduled for April 28.

“We’ll give you a choice: post or freedom,” the Bench declared, placing the political future and legal liberty of Senthil Balaji in stark contrast.

UNI SNG SS