The Supreme Court on Monday expressed concern over the appointment of DMK leader V Senthil Balaji as a minister in the Tamil Nadu government shortly after he was granted bail in a money laundering case tied to the cash-for-jobs scam. The court agreed to examine a plea raising apprehensions about the independence of witnesses in the ongoing case.

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih declined to interfere with its earlier order, dated September 26, granting bail to Balaji. This refusal came in response to a plea by complainant K Vidhya Kumar seeking the cancellation of the bail.

"We granted you bail, and days later, you become a minister. Anyone would believe that as a senior cabinet minister, witnesses might feel pressured. What is this going on?" Justice Oka remarked, addressing senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared on behalf of Balaji.

The court clarified it would not recall the bail order, underscoring that the legal principles established in the case were benefiting many others. Justice Oka stated the enquiry would focus solely on whether Balaji’s ministerial position could unduly influence witnesses in the trial.

"The apprehension is that given the seriousness of allegations against the second respondent (Balaji), witnesses may not feel free to depose against someone holding a cabinet minister's position," the court noted in its written order. It refrained from issuing any formal notices in the matter and scheduled the hearing for December 13, instructing Balaji’s counsel Ram Sankar to provide relevant instructions.

Balaji, 48, who represents the Karur assembly constituency, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on June 14, 2023, during his tenure as Tamil Nadu’s transport minister under the AIADMK regime (2011–2015). Following his arrest, the ED alleged in its chargesheet that Balaji had misused his position, turning the recruitment process in the transport department into a "corrupt chiefdom" for personal financial gain.

The money laundering case dates back to July 2021 when the ED began its probe based on three FIRs filed by Tamil Nadu police in 2018. The court noted Balaji had been incarcerated for 471 days before being granted bail on September 26, with the Supreme Court observing that the trial's completion was unlikely in the near future.

Despite his legal challenges, Balaji was sworn in as a cabinet minister on September 29, retaining his previous portfolios of electricity, non-conventional energy development, prohibition, and excise in Chief Minister M K Stalin’s cabinet. This prompted further criticism, including the current plea, which flagged concerns about the potential influence on witnesses due to his political stature.

The court had earlier directed the Madras High Court to appoint a new judge to oversee Balaji’s trial. Balaji’s ministerial reappointment and his bail continue to draw scrutiny, raising questions about the balance between legal processes and political power.