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A Supreme Court bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Hima Kohli today dismissed the application filed by former Tamil Nadu minister Rajenthra Bhalaji for relaxation of the conditions of bail granted to him in a job scam case. 

On January 12, 2022, the Chief Justice of India-led bench granted bail to Bhalaji and directed him to not leave the place of the jurisdictional police station where the alleged offences are registered.

Bhalaji was a minister when AIADMK was in power in Tamil Nadu. He was being investigated by the Tamil Nadu Police for misappropriating rupees three crore from "Aavin" (Tamil Nadu’s dairy cooperative society) and cash for a job scam. His plea for anticipatory bail was rejected by the High Court on 17th December 2021. Bhalaji then approached Supreme Court.

Sidharth Bhatnagar, Sr. Adv, mentioned the matter before the court stating that Bhalaji has fully co-operated with the investigation and he wishes to go to Chennai to attend a party conference this month. The bench, however, told him that there is no urgency in the matter.

When the matter came up for hearing, Bhatnagar argued that Bhalaji being a prominent leader of the party and a former minister intends to attend the conference. To this, Justice J.K.Maheshwari remarked, "Will the conference not happen if he is not present?" However, Bhatnagar reiterated that Bhalaji has fully co-operated with the investigation so far. 

Court, on hearing his submissions, dismissed Bhalaji's application. 

On 6th January, the bench led by CJI NV Ramana had said, “Is this being done out of Political Vendetta?”

Court had also questioned the intention of the government for arresting Bhalaji a day before the matter was listed for hearing with Justice Surya Kant remarking,

“Heavens are not going to fall if you wait for a day!” The Court had further questioned if the government was trying to stop the court from hearing the matter.  

Thereafter, on January 12, 2022 while granting bail to Bhalaji, the court had remarked that they should take a serious view over the matter or order a judicial inquiry into the way Tamil Nadu Police has handled the arrest of the former Minister. Then, Court had granted interim bail to Bhalaji. 

Case title: Rajendra Balaji Vs State Represented by Inspector of Police