The Supreme Court has declined to appoint a Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) in the trial of former Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji, who faces charges related to a job-for-cash corruption scandal. Instead, the court pressed for answers regarding the lengthy seven-month delay by the Tamil Nadu Governor in granting approval for Balaji’s prosecution.
A bench comprising Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih dismissed concerns raised by victims, stating that there was no evidence questioning the competence of the existing Public Prosecutor, P Washington Dhanasekaran. The court emphasized that prosecutors handling cases involving Members of Parliament and Legislative Assembly, which are monitored by the Supreme Court, carry significant responsibility.
The Tamil Nadu government defended Dhanasekaran’s qualifications in an affidavit, underscoring his experience as the Public Prosecutor of the MP/MLA court in Chennai, which is currently managing Balaji’s trial.
On a previous date, the Supreme Court had instructed the state to provide all correspondence with the Governor’s office regarding the sanction for Balaji’s prosecution. The court was notified that the approval was finally granted on August 23, 2024. Expressing frustration, the court remarked, “We were wondering why such a long time of seven months was required to deal with the proposal for sanction.”
In addition to the denial of the SPP request, the trial court has been directed to submit a detailed report on the current status of the case, including any related proceedings, by September 30, 2024. The Assistant Sessions Judge is expected to provide the report in a sealed envelope.
The Allegations Against Balaji
From 2011 to 2016, Senthil Balaji served as Tamil Nadu’s Transport Minister. During this time, he allegedly orchestrated a job-for-money scam, in which candidates were promised employment in exchange for payments. Despite collecting money, many candidates were left without jobs, leading to multiple complaints against Balaji and his associates.
The charges against him include cheating under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, as well as bribery and misconduct under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) also launched a separate investigation and arrested Balaji in June 2023. His bail request was denied by the court, which ordered the trial to be expedited within three months. Balaji’s appeal to the Supreme Court is still pending, with the next hearing scheduled for later this month.
