A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih heard arguments from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Education Department, and senior advocates Mukul Rohatagi and Sidharth Luthra, appearing for Balaji.
During the hearing, Mehta opposed the granting of bail to the DMK leader and said the delay in the trial was attributable to the former minister.
Rohatgi said Balaji has been in jail for over a year and there is no prospect of the trial being concluded soon.
“At the time, people said I was influential, but I no longer held the portfolio. I had just had an operation. What else was needed?” he said.
The apex court, while dismissing Balaji’s bail plea, said that if he is released on bail in a case of this nature, it will send a wrong signal and will be against the interest of the public at large.
He noted that since the petitioner was detained for over eight months, it would be appropriate to direct the special court to dispose of the case within a time-bound period.
“Accordingly, the Principal Special Court at Chennai shall be directed to dispose of the case within three months from the date of receipt of the copy of this order,” he had ordered.
The High Court ordered that the trial be conducted on a day-to-day basis in accordance with the guidelines issued by the apex court.
The ED arrested Balaji on June 14, 2023, in a money laundering case linked to an alleged cash-for-work scam when he was transport minister in a previous AIADMK government.
On August 12, 2023, the Department of Education filed a 3,000-page indictment against Balaji.
On October 19, the Supreme Court had dismissed Balaji’s earlier bail petition. A local court had also dismissed his bail petitions three times.
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