[Cash for job scam] Wife of Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji filed Habeas Corpus petition before Madras High Court

Madras High Court: S Megala, wife of V. Senthil Balaji, Minister for Electricity, Prohibition & Excise, Tamil Nadu, who has been arrested today by the Directorate of Enforcement (‘ED’) in money laundering case, filed a habeas corpus petition. The division bench of M Sundar and R Sakthivel.JJ. agreed to an urgent hearing of the case.

The present case is related to the cash-for-jobs scam, in which the Tamil Nadu minister and DMK MLA V Senthil Balaji, among others, has been accused of accepting bribes from candidates in exchange of appointment to the State Transportation Corporation.

The action came following the Supreme Court’s decision in Y. Balaji v. Karthik Desari, 2023 SCC OnLine SC 645 , wherein the Court has allowed the appeals arising out of the order for de novo investigation and set aside the directions issued in the original petition for de novo investigation. Further, the Court allowed the ED to continue its investigation.

S Megala alleged that the arrest was made without any notice or summons. The ED raided his home, office and even the premises of his brother before taking him for further questioning.

Also read: Explained| Supreme Court judgment allowing ED probe against TN Minister Senthil Balaji in Cash for Job Scam.

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Sufficient material for framing charges against Senthil Balaji in cash-for-job scam; Madras High Court upholds trial court’s order.

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Whether Enforcement Case Information Report can proceed while proceedings pursuant to FIR stayed by Court? Madras High Court refrains ED to proceed against Senthil Balaji.

Source: Press