Senthil Balaji bows to Top Court ultimatum, Quits as Minister

Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK leader V Senthil Balaji resigned from the MK Stalin Cabinet on Sunday, days after the Supreme Court issued an ultimatum in connection with a money laundering case. The top court had asked Balaji to choose between his "post and freedom," warning that his bail could be cancelled if he did not step down as minister.

Another minister, K Ponmudy, also resigned amid backlash over his controversial remarks linking Shaivism and Vaishnavism to a sex worker. His resignation came days after the Madras High Court initiated suo motu proceedings in the matter.

Balaji, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in June 2023 in connection with a money laundering case linked to a cash-for-jobs scam, was granted bail by the Supreme Court in September last year. Although he had resigned from the Cabinet while in jail, Balaji was reinstated after securing bail. The Supreme Court found his reinstatement troubling, citing the serious nature of the charges against him.

Earlier this month, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and AG Masih warned Balaji to choose between his ministerial post and his liberty, giving him time until Monday to decide. The court was hearing applications seeking to recall the bail granted to Balaji, citing allegations that he was influencing witnesses.

Meanwhile, Ponmudy is facing legal action over a controversial speech allegedly targeting Saivites, Vaishnavites, and women. Last week, the Madras High Court registered a suo motu case against the DMK leader, observing that the speech “prima facie appeared to be hate speech”. The DMK had removed Ponmudy from a key party post, with opposition parties and other groups demanding his removal from the Cabinet.