Chennai, May 19:
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has approached the Tamil Nadu government led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay seeking formal sanction to prosecute DMK leader V. Senthilbalaji in the alleged cash-for-jobs scam. In its letter dated May 15, the central agency invoked Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, which mandates prior approval from the competent government authority before prosecuting a public servant for acts committed during their tenure in office. The request has been sent to the Chief Secretary, placing the onus on the State government to decide whether legal proceedings can move forward.
The case traces back to the 2011–2016 period when Senthilbalaji served as Transport Minister in the cabinet of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. According to the ED, the scam involved large-scale irregularities in recruitment within State Transport Undertakings, where bribes were allegedly collected from candidates in exchange for job promises. The agency has claimed that the funds generated through these illegal means were subsequently laundered and projected as legitimate income. Over the years, the case has remained politically and legally contentious, even as Senthilbalaji switched allegiance to the DMK and rose to prominence within the party. His arrest, prolonged incarceration, and eventual bail by the Supreme Court further intensified public and political scrutiny.
The ED has also flagged what it calls “deliberate delays” in granting prosecution sanction during the previous regime, noting that its earlier request routed through the Governor’s office was returned without approval. The agency has now resubmitted its request directly to the State government along with detailed investigation records and supporting documents. The decision of the Vijay-led government is now being keenly watched, as it will not only determine the immediate legal course of the case but also signal the administration’s stance on corruption allegations involving opposition leaders.