The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected the bail plea of DMK minister V Senthil Balaji, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case. Balaji had sought bail on health grounds.
The apex court, reviewing health reports, found no serious condition and granted him the liberty to pursue regular bail from the trial court.
This decision comes in the wake of an appeal against the Madras High Court's October 19 order, which denied his bail, citing concerns about potential witness influence if he were released on bail.
"Any observation made in the interim order against the petitioner on merits shall not come in the way of the petitioner in filing regular bail application," the bench said.
Expressing disinclination to entertain the matter, the bench witnessed the withdrawal of the plea, resulting in the dismissal of the matter as withdrawn.
Earlier, Balaji had been directed by the top court to submit his medical reports for consideration.
Upon dismissing the bail plea, the high court remarked that based on Balaji's health report, it seemed unlikely that his medical condition required release on bail.
Balaji was arrested on June 14 by the ED in connection with a money laundering case linked to a cash-for-jobs scam when he was the Transport Minister during the earlier AIADMK regime.
