Senthilbalaji seeks anticipatory bail in alleged Rs 35 crore horse-trading attempt case

CHENNAI: Contending that the allegations that he orchestrated the alleged plot to bribe a TVK legislator with Rs 35 crore were unsubstantiated and politically motivated, influential DMK leader and Coimbatore South MLA V Senthilbalaji moved the Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail.

On June 29, the ruling party’s Uthangarai MLA N Elaiyaraja lodged a complaint with the Chennai police Commissioner alleging that he was offered Rs 35 crore to vote against the Speaker during a proposed resolution in the Assembly, and was threatened when he rejected the offer.

The Triplicane police registered a case under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). After being arrayed as an accused, Senthilbalaji approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail.

According to the prosecution, the investigation revealed that the caller, Thirunavukkarasu, contacted Elaiyaraja at the instance of Senthilbalaji and his brother Ashok Kumar.

In his anticipatory bail plea, Senthilbalaji submitted that there is no call detail record, WhatsApp communication, voice record, message, tower location, CCTV footage, bank transaction, money trail, document, electronic record, recovery, or independent witness linking him to the alleged bribery attempt or the threat.

Further, he contended that, in the absence of any objective material connecting him to the allegations, his arrest would amount to arresting him first and searching for evidence later.

Senthilbalaji alleged that the FIRs registered in the case were politically motivated and instituted solely on account of political vendetta.

Based on those FIRs, which were treated as the predicate offences, the Enforcement Directorate registered an ECIR and subsequently filed a complaint before the competent court, he added.

The anticipatory bail petition will be taken up for hearing by Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan on Wednesday (July 8).