Senthil Balaji Faces ED: A Tale of Political Trials and Triumph

Senthil Balaji, Tamil Nadu's electricity minister, appeared at the Enforcement Directorate as a condition of his bail in a money laundering case. Balaji, linked to a cash-for-jobs scam during his tenure in the AIADMK government, remains defiant, dismissing the charges as political vendetta.

Senthil Balaji, the Tamil Nadu Minister of Electricity, Non-Conventional Energy Development, Prohibition, and Excise, made an appearance at the Enforcement Directorate's office in Nungambakkam on Friday. This appearance was in compliance with the bail conditions set by the Supreme Court, which granted him release from Chennai's Puzhal Central Prison on September 26, following his detention in connection with a money laundering case linked to a cash-for-jobs scam.

Upon his release, Balaji denounced the charges against him as baseless, alleging that they stemmed from political vendetta rather than fact. He expressed deep gratitude towards DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, stating his determination to legally contest and emerge victorious against what he termed as a "fake case." Balaji asserted, "The case which was initiated against me was a fake case and was just a political vendetta. I will overcome and win this fake case legally by facing court. I am obliged to DMK President and TN CM MK Stalin."

Balaji's history with the case dates back to his time as the Transport Minister under the AIADMK regime from 2011 to 2015, a period during which allegations of a cash-for-jobs scam were lodged. He was arrested earlier on June 14 for his alleged involvement in the scam. The Enforcement Case Information Register (ECIR) was based on three FIRs filed by local police in 2018, accusing Balaji of malfeasance during his ministerial tenure that spanned the Jayalalithaa-led government. In December 2018, he joined DMK and took office as the electricity minister when the party ascended to power in May 2021, subsequently being reappointed as a minister following a key reshuffle on September 29.

(With inputs from agencies.)