A special court in Tamil Nadu has adjourned the hearing in the high-profile case against former minister V Senthilbalaji, who is embroiled in a scandal over allegations of accepting bribes in exchange for government job postings. The adjournment came after the Central Crime Branch (CCB) informed the court that the state government had not yet granted the necessary sanction to prosecute Senthilbalaji and others implicated in the case.The case against Senthilbalaji, who served as Transport Minister during the AIADMK regime from 2014 to 2015, has been a matter of significant public interest. The allegations date back to this period when it was claimed that Senthilbalaji and his associates promised government jobs in the transport department in exchange for bribes. The complaints against him began to surface in 2015, with over 20 individuals lodging formal complaints with the CCB. They alleged that after paying significant sums of money, they were not provided with the promised jobs.
In the wake of these complaints, the CCB initiated an investigation, which culminated in the filing of a chargesheet against Senthilbalaji and others. However, in a significant twist, the Madras High Court discharged Senthilbalaji and his co-accused from the case, effectively halting the legal proceedings against them.
The case took another turn when the Supreme Court intervened, setting aside the Madras High Court’s order. The apex court directed the CCB to continue its investigation into the allegations and to file a final report on the matter. This directive from the Supreme Court reignited the legal battle against Senthilbalaji and others, as the CCB resumed its investigation into the alleged scam.
In the latest development, the case was listed for hearing before the special court designated for MP/MLAs. During the hearing, the CCB submitted that despite filing a supplementary final report, the state government had not yet granted the necessary sanction to prosecute those involved. The prosecution sanction is a mandatory requirement for legal proceedings to continue against public servants or former public servants in cases of corruption and related offenses.
Given this procedural delay, the special court has adjourned the case to September 12. The adjournment is intended to allow the CCB and the prosecution to obtain the required sanction and prepare for the subsequent legal proceedings.