Supreme Court Schedules July 31 Hearing for Ex-Minister Senthilbalaji's Bail Appeal
The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to urgently hear on July 31 an appeal filed by former Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthilbalaji against the Madras High Court's refusal to grant him pre-arrest bail in a corruption case. The case was registered by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) on July 28.
Senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Mukul Rohatgi, and Amit Anand Tiwari made an oral mentioning before Chief Justice Surya Kant, arguing that the FIR was based on allegations made by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in an affidavit filed two years ago in the Supreme Court. Rohatgi submitted that the DVAC concluded a cognisable offence existed due to events between 2021 and 2025.
Tiwari noted that the ED affidavit case is sub judice in the Supreme Court and its proceedings remain stayed. Sibal added that there is a risk of Senthilbalaji's bail being cancelled in the stayed case due to the DVAC FIR.
The DVAC FIR alleges that Senthilbalaji, along with IAS officer S. Visakan, former TASMAC officials T. Rama Durai Murugan, R. Panneer Selvam, and personal assistant Bhaskar, abused their official positions and entered into a criminal conspiracy with distillery and bottle companies from 2021 onwards. The agency claims they laundered money through TASMAC by manipulation and favouritism, causing loss to the government exchequer.
The Madras High Court had earlier rejected Senthilbalaji's advance bail petition, stating that the case requires custodial interrogation.
