Court to Hear Senthil Balaji Bail Plea After Recusal

The Supreme Court was scheduled to hear an urgent anticipatory bail plea on Friday from DMK leader and former Tamil Nadu minister V. Senthil Balaji after the Madras High Court rejected his petition. However, the hearing was delayed when Justice V. Mohana, part of the original bench, recused herself from the case. Chief Justice Surya Kant announced that he and Justice Joymalya Bagchi would take up the matter later in the day, citing urgency.

The bail plea stems from a fresh corruption case registered against Balaji and six others by the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) concerning alleged irregularities in the state-run Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC). The case pertains to activities alleged to have occurred between 2021 and 2025, a period during which Balaji served as the state's Minister for Prohibition and Excise. The Madras High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail application on Thursday, with Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan stating that custodial interrogation was necessary. The judge noted allegations that officials who were close associates of Balaji had abused their positions, entered into a criminal conspiracy, and caused a huge...