SC refuses plea to transfer Senthilbalaji case to itself after HC gives split verdict

The Supreme Court on July 4 did not entertain a plea by the Enforcement Directorate to decide by itself the question of custody of Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthilbalaji in a money-laundering case linked to the cash-for-jobs scam following a split verdict by the Madras High Court.

The Supreme Court on July 4 did not entertain a plea by the Enforcement Directorate to decide by itself the question of custody of Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthilbalaji in a money-laundering case linked to the cash-for-jobs scam following a split verdict by the Madras High Court.

A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta, instead, requested the Madras High Court Chief Justice to expeditiously constitute a larger Bench to hear the case.

The hearing in the top court came within hours of the High Court delivering the split verdict on July 4.

Also Read | On the arrest of Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthilbalaji and its aftermath

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for the central agency, urged the Bench to authoritatively decide the “neat questions of law” as to whether a habeas corpus petition would stand after a judicial order of remand and if the time spent by Mr. Senthilbalaji under medical treatment in a private hospital should be excluded from the period of custody allowed to the ED.

“He is an influential person. Every day that passes increases the risk of tampering of evidence in the case. The damage would be irreversible,” Mr. Mehta stressed vehemently.

Appearing for Mr. Senthilbalaji, senior advocate Kapil Sibal and advocate Amit Anand Tiwari objected to Mr. Mehta’s suggestion to transfer the case to the Apex Court.