The Madras High Court has provided anticipatory bail to DMK MLA and former Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji, along with his brother RV Ashok Kumar, in a high-profile horse-trading case. This case involves allegations of a ₹35 crore offer to a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) MLA. The judgment was delivered by Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan, who imposed specific conditions for the bail.
Background of the Case
The case originated from a complaint filed by Uthangarai MLA N Elaiyaraja of the TVK party. According to Elaiyaraja, he received a phone call from an individual named Thirunavukkarassu, who claimed that a major political party was planning to propose a resolution to destabilize Chief Minister Vijay’s government. Elaiyaraja alleged he was offered ₹35 crore to support the resolution and faced threats if he refused to comply.
Law enforcement later asserted that the phone call was orchestrated by Senthil Balaji and his brother, Ashok Kumar. In connection with this case, three individuals were apprehended on July 1.
Legal Arguments Presented
Senior Advocate N R Elango, representing Senthil Balaji, contended that the complaint was lodged two days following the alleged phone call. He emphasized the absence of a call recording, noting that the prosecution’s reliance was solely on call detail records. Elango argued that the accusations against Balaji were speculative, particularly regarding the purported attempt to overthrow the government.
The Court inquired about the evidence against Balaji, as his name was not explicitly mentioned in the FIR. Elango argued that the prosecution’s only assertion was Balaji’s presence in Erode on the day in question, implying that the case was strategically used to hinder Balaji’s political activities, especially with an impending by-election in Karur.
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Opposition from the State
John Sathyan, the Public Prosecutor representing the State, opposed the bail applications. He presented evidence suggesting a conspiracy, such as room bookings in Chennai, and mentioned that one suspect had fled to Singapore, allegedly erasing video evidence remotely. The State also raised concerns about potential hawala transactions, indicating significant evidence of financial misconduct.
Court’s Decision
After evaluating the arguments, the Court granted anticipatory bail to Senthil Balaji and Ashok Kumar. As part of the bail conditions, they are required to report to the investigating officer daily until further instructions and are expected to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
