Supreme Court Proposes Transfer Of Corruption Cases' Trial Against Senthil Balaji From TN To Delhi

The Supreme Court today issued notice on a petition seeking clubbing of charge sheets in the 'cash-for-jobs' cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act involving former Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji.A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi passed the order, calling for the State's reply on aspects including maintainability of the petition.During the hearing, Justice Kant posed to Senior Advocates Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi & Amit Anand Tiwari (for State) and Gopal Sankaranarayanan (for petitioner) if the trial can be transferred from Tamil Nadu to another "neutral" jurisdiction like Delhi.On behalf of the petitioner, Gopal S said that there is no issue. However, he pointed out two things - (i) all the accused are not party to the petition, except one (G Ganesan), and there may be allegation in future that directions were passed behind their back, and (ii) in 2003, the Supreme Court transferred trial against former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa from Tamil Nadu to Karnataka.On the other hand, Tiwari, on behalf of the State, expressed reservations about the transfer, saying that it may be seen as a trust deficit on the part of the authorities. "The moment it is transferred, it will look like there is no trust in the system...", he said. Hearing him, Justice Kant assured that the bench would record everything in its order. Justice Kant also said that the transfer would spare the Government of difficulties arising from the opposition's allegations of bias that are "bound to come". "Every day you will invite allegation that state is doing this and that...only to keep yourself in peace and away from allegations which are bound to come, if the trial is transferred to any neutral place...the witnesses can depose online, we can direct a dedicated court to take up the matter on day-to-day basis...suppose this gentleman, who is a public figure, has been falsely implicated, he will be exonerated...he will resume public life", said the judge.When Tiwari expressed concerns about delay in trial if it is transferred as witnesses are in Tamil Nadu, Justice Kant said that witnesses can testify online. At last, the judge asked the parties to appreciate that the "atmosphere in Tamil Nadu will remain charged" amidst allegations.In a connected matter, where an application was filed seeking appointment of Special Prosecutor for the case(s), Gopal S placed before the Court a list of proposed names. A copy of the same was asked to be served on the State. In this regard, Tiwari pointed out that the Supreme Court considered similar requests on three occasions in the past and found the concerned Special Public Prosecutors to be "good enough". He submitted that the prayers were rejected and there was no intervening circumstance to justify renewal of the prayers.Earlier, the Court had slammed the state government, commenting that it was trying to delay the trial against Balaji by adding about 2000 persons, who allegedly gave bribes to get jobs, as accused. The Court observed that the State's attempt appeared to be to ensure that the trials wouldn't be completed during the Minister's lifetime. Criticizing the manner of prosecution being conducted, the Court asked the State to submit a complete list of accused and witnesses in the cash-for-jobs corruption cases involving Balaji.BackgroundThe cash‑for‑jobs case arose from allegations of corrupt practices during Balaji's tenure as Transport Minister (2011-2015) relating to recruitment in the Chennai Metropolitan Transport Corporation. The Madras High Court dismissed petitions challenging the clubbing of charge sheets on 28 March 2025 after concluding that the offences arose from the same transaction, involved overlapping witnesses and documents, and that separate trials would delay proceedings.Balaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in June 2023 in a money‑laundering case linked to the scam and spent around 15 months in custody before being granted bail by the Supreme Court in September 2024. The Court later objected to his return as a Minister and warned him on 9 April 2025 to choose between his post and liberty, giving him time to resign, which he did on 27 April 2025.In September, 2024, the Supreme Court refused to appoint a Special Public Prosecutor for Balaji's trial in the corruption case arising out of the cash-for-jobs 'scam'.In July this year, the Supreme Court criticized the State for implicating over 2,000 persons as accused, many allegedly poor bribe‑payers, to delay trial, calling it a “fraud on the system” and remarking that without judicial intervention, the cases would never conclude in Balaji's lifetime. It also asked the Tamil Nadu government to submit a complete list of accused and witnesses in the corruption cases arising out of the cash-for-jobs corruption cases involving Balaji.Appearance: Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal, Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Amit Anand Tiwari and Gopal Sankaranarayanan; Solicitor General Tushar MehtaCase Title:(1) Y....

Supreme Court Proposes Transfer Of Corruption Cases' Trial Against Senthil Balaji From TN To Delhi

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