Senthilbalaji played central, pivotal role in job racket, ED tells Supreme Court
The case involves alleged kickbacks for jobs in the Metropolitan Transport Corporation and the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation when Mr. Senthilbalaji was the Minister for Transport
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has maintained in the Supreme Court that former Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthilbalaji played a “central and pivotal role” in a “job racket scam” during 2014-15.
A Bench, headed by Justice A.S. Oka, posted the petition led by Mr. Senthilbalaji for regular bail, for hearing on May 6.
The case involves alleged kickbacks for jobs in the Metropolitan Transport Corporation and the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation when Mr. Senthilbalaji was the Minister for Transport.
The Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) was based on three FIRs and a charge-sheet led by the Law Enforcement Agency of the Central Crime Branch of Chennai.
The ED said that bank statements showed cash deposits of ₹1.34 crore in the account of Mr. Senthilbalaji and ₹29.55 lakh in that of S. Megala, his wife. Further, cash deposits of ₹13.13 crore were found with his brother Ashok Kumar,
The ED said that bank statements showed cash deposits of ₹1.34 crore in the account of Mr. Senthilbalaji.
₹53.89 lakh with his wife, A. Nirmala, and ₹2.19 crore with B. Shanmugam, a private assistant of Mr. Senthilbalaji.
“Cash deposits are huge compared to their income disclosed in the income tax returns,” the 93-page adavit led by the Central agency said.
Senior advocate Aryama Sundaram, appearing for Mr. Senthilbalaji, said that his client had been under incarceration for over 150 days.
But the ED said that the “huge cash deposits” traced to Mr. Senthilbalaji was “nothing but part of proceeds of crime brought into the nancial system for the purpose of laundering.
The proceeds of crime identied in his bank accounts were utilised and layered”.
Incriminating les
The adavit said that the candidates who were approached had said that they had paid money to Mr. Shanmugam directly or through mediators. “List of evidences include incriminating documents related to recruitment of drivers, conductors, junior tradesman, junior engineers, assistant engineers found in a pen drive seized at Mr. Senthilbalaji’s house,” the ED said.
It said that there were email communications between Mr. Senthilbalaji,
Mr. Shanmugam and M. Karthikeyan, another private assistant, and ocials of MTC/TNSTC regarding the recruitment.
The adavit said that Mr. Senthilbalaji exploited his oce for personal gains through acts of corruption. He had collaborated with personal sta, family members and ocials to orchestrate a strategy, it alleged. “Evidence shows conspiracy to exchange cash for jobs or selections emanating from Mr. Senthilbalaji,” the ED said.
The Central agency said that the Supreme Court should deny regular bail to Mr. Senthilbalaji.
He and his brother were highly in¡uential persons. Mr. Kumar had been absconding for a long time. Mr. Senthilbalaji continued as a Minister without portfolio even while in custody, showing the extent of his in¡uence. There had been an attack on income tax ofcials associated with the case. “Petitioner is wilfully not cooperating with the commencement of the trial. He is not complying with the Madras High Court [directive] to complete the trial in three months,” the adavit said.