HC relief to Senthil Balaji in job racket case

Justice PD Audikesavalu, before whom the plea came up, passed the instruction while hearing the anticipatory bail plea moved by the former minister. The case pertains to a complaint lodged by Gopi with the CCB alleging that when Balaji was the transport minister, the latter duped him along with his associates to the tune of Rs 2.31 crore promising jobs in the State Transport Corporation.

Opposing the bail application, public prosecutor A Natarajan submitted that Senthil Balaji and other accused are absconding and that the CCB has seized evidence implicating the former minister in the crime.

Countering this,senior counsel for Balaji, S Prabakaran submitted that the CCB hasnot even served notice to the petitioner as mandated by law. If appropriate notice is served, he is ready to cooperatewith the investigation, he added.

Earlier on January 31, Balaji moved an urgent plea seeking anticipatory bail in the Madras High Court after his Karur and Mandaveli residences were raided in connection with the alleged job racket.