Madras High Court Grants Anticipatory Bail to Senthil Balaji in Rs 35 Crore Case

The Madras High Court on Wednesday granted conditional anticipatory bail to DMK MLA and former minister V Senthil Balaji and his brother R V Ashok Kumar in Chennai. The case involves an alleged Rs 35 crore horse-trading attempt aimed at destabilizing the ruling TVK government.

The legal proceedings took place at the Madras High Court in Chennai. Justice G K Ilanthiraiyan passed the order on the anticipatory bail pleas moved by the DMK legislator and his brother. Both Senthil Balaji and Ashok Kumar had approached the high court expressing apprehension that they might be arrested by the police in connection with the case.

As part of the conditional bail, Justice Ilanthiraiyan directed both Senthil Balaji and Ashok Kumar to appear before the investigating officer twice every day. The court ordered that this routine must be followed by the petitioners until further orders are passed by the judiciary.

In their pleas, the petitioners contended that they have been unfairly targeted. Senthil Balaji and Ashok Kumar stated that their names do not figure in the First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Chennai police. They further alleged that the police are trying to drag them into the horse-trading case due to political motives.

The case itself is based on a complaint lodged on June 29 by TVK Uthangarai MLA N Elaiyaraja. In the complaint, Elaiyaraja alleged that he was offered a bribe of Rs 35 crore as part of an attempt to destabilize the ruling TVK government.

With the High Court's order on Wednesday, the DMK MLA and his brother are protected from immediate arrest, provided they adhere to the daily reporting conditions set by the court. The investigation into the alleged Rs 35 crore bribe offer continues.