Supreme Court Stays Arrest of Former Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the arrest of V. Senthil Balaji, a DMK MLA and former Tamil Nadu Minister, in a corruption case involving the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC). A bench consisting of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi granted the interim relief after Justice V. Mohana recused herself from the hearing. The order follows a July 30 decision by the Madras High Court to deny Balaji anticipatory bail, with Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan stating that custodial interrogation was necessary due to the scale of the alleged corruption.

The case stems from a July 28 FIR registered by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) against Balaji and six others. The agency alleges that between 2021 and 2025, officials manipulated liquor procurement transport contracts and bar licenses, using inflated invoices to generate kickbacks and overcharging customers. While one source notes the High Court cited a loss of 17 crore rupees, the State Public Prosecutor argued the actual loss to the public exchequer could exceed 100 crore rupees.

In granting the stay, the Supreme Court noted that since Balaji is no longer a serving minister, it is unlikely he could influence the investigation. The court directed Balaji to deposit his passport and cooperate fully with the probe, stating that the relief would be cancelled if he interfered with witnesses. Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Mukul Rohatgi, representing Balaji, argued that the FIR was based on an old Enforcement Directorate affidavit and characterized the move as political vendetta. Conversely, senior advocate Guru Krishnakumar, representing the state, argued that Balaji had previously ensured no cases were registered against him while in power and should not receive blanket protection.

Outlets with a center-left lean focused on the court's reasoning regarding the change in government as a reason for the lack of influence. Center-right outlets provided more extensive detail on the specific allegations of the TASMAC scam, including the mention of a Karur gang and the manipulation of demand drafts.