The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has written to the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary seeking sanction to prosecute DMK leader and former minister V. Senthil Balaji in connection with the alleged cash-for-jobs scam, intensifying legal pressure in the high-profile case.
Chennai: Trouble appears to be mounting for DMK leader and former minister V. Senthil Balaji after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) formally approached the Tamil Nadu government seeking permission to prosecute him in the alleged cash-for-jobs scam.
While Senthil Balaji was released on bail by the Supreme Court in September 2024, the ED had already filed a prosecution complaint against him before the special court for Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cases in Chennai. However, the trial in the case is yet to commence, pending sanction from the state government, as he was serving as a minister at the time the alleged offences were committed.
According to reports from media, the ED has now reportedly written to Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar seeking sanction to proceed legally against Senthil Balaji and others in connection with the money laundering probe linked to the alleged recruitment scam during his tenure as Transport Minister between 2011 and 2015.
Further reports state, the three-page communication dated May 15 stated that the agency’s earlier request seeking prosecution sanction, addressed to the then Governor on May 14, 2025, was returned on February 23 this year following directions from the state government.
The then Chief Secretary had reportedly informed the Governor in October 2025 that the Tamil Nadu government alone was the competent authority to grant sanction for prosecuting a public servant, and that the ED should have approached the Chief Secretary directly instead of routing the request through the Governor’s office.
In its latest communication, the ED has reportedly enclosed relevant evidence, a confidential investigation note, and a copy of the prosecution complaint in a pen drive submitted along with the letter. The communication has also reportedly been acknowledged by the office of the Chief Secretary.
Reports indicate that the ED had earlier routed its request through the Governor’s office, but the matter was returned after procedural exchanges between Raj Bhavan and the state government. The agency has now directly approached the Tamil Nadu government seeking prosecution sanction under provisions applicable to public servants.
The latest move is being viewed as a significant escalation in the long-running cash-for-jobs case, which has remained under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate and other agencies for several years.
While Senthil Balaji was released on bail by the Supreme Court in September 2024, the ED had already filed a prosecution complaint against him before the special court for Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cases in Chennai. However, the trial in the case is yet to commence, pending sanction from the state government, as he was serving as a minister at the time the alleged offences were committed.
According to reports from media, the ED has now reportedly written to Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar seeking sanction to proceed legally against Senthil Balaji and others in connection with the money laundering probe linked to the alleged recruitment scam during his tenure as Transport Minister between 2011 and 2015.
Further reports state, the three-page communication dated May 15 stated that the agency’s earlier request seeking prosecution sanction, addressed to the then Governor on May 14, 2025, was returned on February 23 this year following directions from the state government.
The then Chief Secretary had reportedly informed the Governor in October 2025 that the Tamil Nadu government alone was the competent authority to grant sanction for prosecuting a public servant, and that the ED should have approached the Chief Secretary directly instead of routing the request through the Governor’s office.
In its latest communication, the ED has reportedly enclosed relevant evidence, a confidential investigation note, and a copy of the prosecution complaint in a pen drive submitted along with the letter. The communication has also reportedly been acknowledged by the office of the Chief Secretary.
Reports indicate that the ED had earlier routed its request through the Governor’s office, but the matter was returned after procedural exchanges between Raj Bhavan and the state government. The agency has now directly approached the Tamil Nadu government seeking prosecution sanction under provisions applicable to public servants.
The latest move is being viewed as a significant escalation in the long-running cash-for-jobs case, which has remained under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate and other agencies for several years.