SC grants anticipatory bail to ex-Tamil Nadu minister Balaji in corruption case

In a relief to DMK leader and former minister V Senthil Balaji, the Supreme Court on Friday granted him anticipatory bail till further orders in a fresh corruption case lodged against him by the Tamil Nadu government led by Joseph Vijay. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi granted the relief to Balaji with certain conditions – that he will cooperate with the investigation, deposit his passport and not influence any witnesses.

"You immediately come to us even if there is slightest breach in bail conditions. We will modify or cancel our orders," Justice Bagchi told senior advocate Guru Krishnakumar appearing for the Tamil Nadu government. Earlier in the day, Justice V Mohana recused herself from hearing the anticipatory bail plea of Balaji. On Thursday, the top court agreed to hear Balaji's plea seeking pre-arrest bail in the fresh corruption case pertaining to alleged irregularities in the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC).

The Madras High Court had dismissed the anticipatory bail petition of Balaji in the FIR lodged by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) in the TASMAC scam case. Soon after the denial, the top court bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant was urged by senior lawyers Kapil Sibal, Mukul Rohatgi and Amit Anand Tiwari on behalf of the DMK leader that his plea be listed for urgent hearing as he faces imminent coercive action. Balaji represents Coimbatore South in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.