I have the right to participate in public life: Senthilbalaji

Tamil Nadu Electricity, Ban and GST V. Senthilbalaji addressed the media in Fort St. George, Chennai on March 14, 2025. Image source: PTI

Tamil Nadu Electricity, Injunction and GST V. Senthilbalaji told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that he would have the right to participate in public life as long as the law does not disqualify him.

The minister is responding to repeated enquiry from the Supreme Court whether he should continue to be tried in the government as the defendant in money laundering cases related to suspected cash business scams.

The Enforcement Bureau (ED) proposed that Mr. Senthilbalaji could use his office to potentially affect witnesses in the case – complainant K. Vidhyakumar shared concerns. Mr Senthilbalaji was appointed minister shortly after being released from the Supreme Court on September 26 last year. Mr. Vidhyakumar and ED both seek recall bail.

In his affidavit, Mr Senthilbalaji, represented by senior defender Am Singhvi and advocate Ram Shankar, argued that his appointment as minister did not violate any conditions of bail or any law.

Mr Senthilbalaji said in his affidavit: “No even breach of any bail conditions deserves interference from the Supreme Court. It can also be noted that the cancellation of bail is subject to the defendant’s explicit breach of any bail conditions.”

The minister said the emergency room concerns were not based on any compelling material. He said Locus stands Complaint.

“In addition, he appears to have filed this application in the context of the political opposition, which is evident from the fact that he has been constantly filing lawsuits since 2021 and has participated in various lawsuits,” the affidavit said.

The minister believes that if his so-called influence is so “strong”, the prosecution will not be initiated and continued. The minister said he was released on bail after more than 15 months in prison.

He said the trial was in its new stage. He said there were more than 2,200 defendants and more than 500 witnesses, adding that it was an attempt to imprison him for a long time.

Mr Senthilbalaji was accused of playing a “central and critical role” in the work of Metropolitan Transportation Company and served as Tamil Nadu State Transportation Company during his tenure as Minister of Transportation.