A special court in Chennai has framed charges against former Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthil Balaji under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) concerning an alleged cash-for-jobs scam.
Cash-for-jobs scam
The case pertains to events between 2011 and 2015 when Balaji served as the Transport Minister under the AIADMK government led by the late J. Jayalalithaa. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) claims that Balaji accepted money from job aspirants in exchange for employment in transport corporations during this period.
Balaji, currently a DMK MLA, was arrested by the ED in June 2023 while serving as the Electricity Minister under Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. Following his arrest, he was hospitalised after experiencing chest pain and later underwent heart surgery.
Despite his detention, the Tamil Nadu government retained him in his ministerial position to demonstrate support. However, he resigned in February 2024 after the Madras High Court emphasised the importance of public morality.
The Trial
During the court proceedings on 8 August 2024, Balaji pleaded not guilty to the charges, alleging that the case was driven by political vendetta. He expressed a desire to cross-examine witnesses, but the court adjourned the case to August 16 for the cross-examination to commence. The charges framed against Balaji include generating and knowingly collecting proceeds of crime, as detailed by the prosecution.
The case has drawn significant political attention, with the DMK accusing the BJP of using central agencies like the ED to target political opponents. The BJP, however, denies these allegations, insisting that the ED is acting according to the law. The Supreme Court recently commented on the ED’s low conviction rates under the PMLA, highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding the agency’s actions.
(With inputs from The Hindu)
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