SPP to conduct trial against Senthil Balaji, TN to SC

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay-led Government in Tamil Nadu on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that it has appointed a Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) to conduct trials against former DMK minister V Senthil Balaji in the cash-for-job scam-related cases where over 2,000 persons have been implicated as accused.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was told by Additional Advocate General Hairpriya Padmanabhan for Tamil Nadu that the Government has appointed a SPP to conduct the trial against the former minister, and if the need arises, it is willing to appoint an Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) for expeditious disposal of the case.

Advocate Pranav Sachdeva, appearing for one Y Balaji, said that the main issue was not the appointment of SPP or APP but it was the clubbing of cases related to the scam, as they have named more than 2,000 accused in the matter to delay the proceedings. The bench said it would hear the matter in detail on August 11 and adjourned it. The top court was hearing a petition filed by Y Balaji, challenging the Madras High Court order of March 28, 2025, which dismissed pleas against the clubbing of multiple charge sheets in cases related to the alleged scam.

On July 30, 2025, the top court termed the trial involving Senthil Balaji a “rudderless ship” and observed that a cricket stadium would be required to conduct prosecution in the cases with over 2,000 persons as accused.

It had pulled up the then DMK Government in the state for implicating so many persons as accused, questioned whether they are victims or victimisers and asked for the details of the accused and witnesses.

The court had said it appears to be the most populated trial in India with 2,000 people.

It had told the counsel representing the State Government that besides the former minister and officials who are prime accused, the other 2,000 persons arrayed as accused technically have committed a crime by giving a bribe but on a comparative analysis, they are more of a victim than an accused.

Balaji had resigned from the MK Stalin-led state cabinet on April 27, 2025 after being pulled up by the top court.

The apex court had asked Balaji on April 23, 2025 to make a choice “between post and freedom” as it warned him that his bail would be cancelled if he did not step down as a minister.

It took exception to the fact that Balaji was reinstated as a minister in the southern State, days after he obtained bail in a money-laundering case related to the alleged cash-for-jobs scam.

On September 26, 2024, the top court granted bail to Balaji in a case probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

With Balaji spending more than 15 months in jail, the top court had observed that there was no possibility that the trial would be concluded in the near future.