Cricket stadium will be needed to conduct trial involving former TN minister Senthil Balaji: SC
Terming the trial in cases involving ex-minister as "rudderless ship", a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said that had there not been judicial intervention, the "reluctant state" wanted to give a decent burial of cases involving ex-minister Senthil Balaji in the cash-for-job scam case.
"With over 2000 accused and 500 witnesses it will be the most populated trial of India. A small courtroom of the trial court will not suffice and a cricket stadium will be needed to even mark the presence of the accused. Several Artificial Intelligence-generated accused will pop up to mark their presence," the bench told senior advocate Gopal Sankaranaryanan, appearing for Y Balaji, representing victims of the scam and opposing the decision for clubbing of the cases.
On a prayer for appointment of a special public prosecutor, the bench told senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the state, that when a powerful minister and affluent people are accused in a case, there is a perception that a lone public prosecutor will not be able to do justice.
On Tuesday, the top court expressed displeasure over the Tamil Nadu government "attempting to delay" the trial in cases involving Balaji by implicating more than 2,000 people as accused in the alleged cash-for-jobs scam and described the attempt as a "complete fraud on the judicial system".
Balaji resigned from the M K Stalin-led state Cabinet on April 27 after being pulled up by the top court.
The apex court asked Balaji on April 23 to make a choice "between post and freedom" as it warned him that his bail would be cancelled if he did not step down as a minister.
It took exception to the fact that Balaji was reinstated as a minister in the southern state, days after he obtained bail in a money-laundering case related to the alleged cash-for-jobs scam.
On September 26, 2024, the top court granted bail to Balaji in a case probed by the Enforcement Directorate.
With Balaji spending more than 15 months in jail, the top court had observed that there was no possibility that the trial would be concluded in the near future.
Balaji (48) was sworn-in as a minister on September 29 last year, and assigned the same key portfolios of electricity, non-conventional energy development, prohibition and excise that he had held previously in the Stalin Cabinet.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
10 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘He may cause prejudice to the case…': Gujarat HC dismisses plea by journalist Langa seeking bail in PMLA case
The Gujarat High Court has dismissed the petition of journalist Mahesh Langa seeking bail in the November 2024 case filed against him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, considering the arguments put forth by Gujarat Advocate General Kamal Trivedi that if enlarged on bail, Langa could 'cause prejudice' to the case of the prosecution. Justice MR Mengdey of the Gujarat High Court on Thursday dismissed Langa's petition stating that the court was 'not inclined to exercise its judicial discretion in favour of the applicant'. The oral order of the court stated, 'Having regard to the facts and material available on record, it would be difficult for this court to record a finding to the effect that the applicant is not guilty of the present offence. Moreover, as stated herein above, the applicant is having number of antecedents and therefore, it is also difficult for this Court to come to the conclusion that the applicant will not commit any offence while on bail. There are all chances that if the applicant is ordered to be enlarged on bail, he may cause prejudice to the case of the prosecution.' The case of the ED is based on two FIRs filed against Langa at the Detection of Crime Branch, Ahmedabad, on October 10, 2024, for alleged criminal breach of trust and cheating as well as a second FIR lodged on January 21, 2025, at Satellite Police station in Ahmedabad for alleged extortion. Senior Advocate SN Soparkar and Advocate Anand Yagnik, appearing for Langa, submitted to the court that he had been granted anticipatory bail in DCB Ahmedabad case by the City Civil and Sessions Court, Ahmedabad, on November 25, 2024, and also in the case at Satellite police station by the District and Sessions Court of Ahmedabad on February 11, 2025. 'Initially, the FIR at DCB police station was taken as base to register the impugned ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report) and thereafter, FIR lodged with Satellite police station was merged into the ECIR,' Langa's advocate informed the HC. Langa's advocates further informed the court that he has been granted anticipatory or regular bail in all six cases against him, including the three offences under the GST Act. The court order noted AG Trivedi's submission that Langa, while being behind the bars, 'is tutoring the witnesses'. The AG cited the example of witness Naina Langa — Langa's sister-in-law — who retracted from her statement recorded by the ED on June 18, 2025. AG Trivedi told the court, 'The applicant has an audacity to file an affidavit under the signature of his advocate on July 7, 2025, producing the affidavit of Ms Naina Langa wherein she has retracted from her statement… The applicant appears to be on a driver's seat regulating everything, his father's account, his wife's account, his sister-in-law's account, his brother's account and has the audacity to say that it may be unaccounted money…' Arguing about the contentious Rs 20 lakh seized from Langa's residence and a subsequent transaction of Rs 30 lakh in connection with a property that was under consideration for purchase in the name of Langa's wife, Kavita, his advocates submitted that 'no predicate offence has been registered in those regards and therefore, these amounts cannot be said to be the proceeds of crime as defined under… PML Act and therefore, the applicant cannot be said to have committed an offence of money laundering as defined in the Act.' The advocates submitted that the amount, which can be alleged to be proceeds of crime, does not exceed Rs 1 crore and therefore, the rigours of the twin conditions of the Act would not come into play, making Langa eligible for bail under the PML Act. Langa's counsel also argued that the precedents relied upon by the state to object to the bail plea were cases related to offences involving crores of rupees or drug peddlers and other illegal activities — none of which is involved in Langa's case. AG Trivedi submitted before the court that the offence has crossed the threshold limit of Rs 1 crore and 'mere grant of anticipatory bail in the predicate offence does not entitle the applicant to be enlarged on bail as a matter of right.' AG Trivedi submitted to the court that the PMLA leaves 'free room for the investigating authority as a complaint can be filed with regard to anything, which is related to proceeds of crime and comes to be noticed during the course of investigation.' He further also submitted that there is 'huge discrepancy in the Cash balance and Annual Income of the present applicant and his wife and his father and Agricultural Income of the father of the applicant of the last six years'.
The Print
10 minutes ago
- The Print
WB govt to provide 16 types of services under ‘Amader Para, Amader Samadhan' scheme
Excluding festival days and official holidays, the camps will be organised in every block, village, and urban area across the districts of Bengal, he said. 'The key issues to be offered from these camps are drainage, development of ICDS centres, primary schools, ponds, garbage management, marketplaces, public transport, urban greening, and road maintenance and others,' the official said. Kolkata, Aug 1 (PTI) The West Bengal government will provide 16 types of services under the 'Amader Para, Amader Samadhan' (our neighbourhood, our solution) scheme starting across the state from August 2, a senior official said on Friday. 'One centre will be set up for every three booths. After listening to citizens' issues, the concerned departments will take action. All proceedings will be managed digitally, ensuring transparency. Local authorities have been instructed to collect a detailed record of problems through these camps,' he said. Citizens will be allowed to report problems themselves without any intermediaries, he said, adding that with over 80,000 booths across the state, the government has planned to set up around 27,000 camps under this initiative. The programme will continue until November 3. The West Bengal government will simultaneously run two flagship outreach programmes — 'Duare Sarkar' and 'Amader Para, Amader Samadhan' — over the next two months, aiming to ensure delivery of services and swift resolution of local issues at the grassroots level. PTI SCH RG This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
The Print
10 minutes ago
- The Print
Union I&B ministry hands over approval letter to MP CM for Akashvani studio in Ujjain
Thanking the Union government for the approval, Yadav said the state's Malwa region has rich art and cultural traditions. The letter was handed over by I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju to Yadav at the latter's office in his residence Samatva Bhawan, the official added. Bhopal, Aug 1 (PTI) The Union Information and Broadcasting ministry on Friday handed over an approval letter to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav for setting up Akashvani studio in Ujjain, an official said. 'In today's information age, broadcasting media has special importance along with other mass media. Akashvani has its own authenticity. In this regard, Ujjain is an important centre along with Indore in Malwa region where Akashvani studio setup was required. I had met Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L Murugan on July 8 on this issue,' the CM said. The Union government was requested to set up an Akashvani center and studio in Ujjain, which has now been approved, Yadav said. 'Till the completion of this process, short-term broadcasting has been arranged from Akashvani Indore six days a week. While other types of arrangements are being made in view of Simhastha: 2028, the achievement of getting Akashvani setup approved in Ujjain is important in the direction of expansion of official media,' he added. A well-equipped radio station was needed to encourage local artists of Ujjain and Malwa region, he said. 'Along with promoting art and culture, this will be a special outreach support for rural and tribal areas. Publicity of goverrnment schemes and expansion of community radio networks will prove useful. It will provide special assistance in reaching information about public welfare decisions to remote rural areas,' he said. Prasar Bharati under the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has approved the proposal of the CM without delay, considering Ujjain as an important center of religious spiritual tourism in MP, the official said. 'Prasar Bharati has taken the initiative to increase broadcasting services using modern technology across India. The popular channels of Akashvani can now be heard on smartphones, tablets and personal computers with quality audio,' the official added. Public Relations Commissioner and Secretary Dr. Sudam Khade was also present on the occasion. PTI MAS BNM This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
