New Delhi (Agency): In a troubling development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has claimed that the entire recruitment process in the Tamil Nadu transport department was turned into a “corrupt chiefdom” during the tenure of V Senthil Balaji. The minister has been accused of executing a “cash-for-jobs scam” under his authority.
The chargesheet filed by the ED alleges multiple violations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). It was submitted on August 12 to a special court in Chennai, which formally acknowledged it on August 16. Balaji was arrested on June 14 concerning the allegations. Despite the ongoing case, he remains a minister without a portfolio in the Chief Minister M.K. Stalin-led cabinet. His judicial custody has been extended until September 15.
The ED’s chargesheet outlines a damning picture of how recruitment was carried out in the transport department. It claims that Balaji used his position as minister for personal gains through “corrupt and illegal means.” He “directly acquired illicit proceeds” from these criminal activities, collaborating with family and staff to execute the scam.
The federal agency further alleged that Balaji and his personal assistants, B Shanmugan and M Karthikeyan, initially denied any connection. However, “investigative and forensic findings” have “decisively established” their links and Balaji’s role in the scam. A paper seized during the investigation showed that candidates who approached Balaji and his PAs received jobs illegally through “illegal gratification” facilitated by the minister.
The ED’s investigation also discovered digital evidence supporting the scheme. Cash was allegedly channeled through Balaji’s brother, Ashok Balaji, and other accomplices. Bank statements of Balaji and his wife were found to have “huge cash deposits,” especially in the period after the job scam activities.
The seized evidence even priced job positions. A driver’s post was sold for Rs 1.75 lakh, a conductor’s post for Rs 2.25 lakh, a junior tradesman’s for Rs 5 lakh, a junior assistant’s for Rs 7 lakh, and an assistant engineer’s for Rs 12 lakh.
As a public servant, Balaji “misused” his official position and “directly acquired the proceeds of crime,” the ED claimed. Some of these proceeds were allegedly laundered into the bank accounts of Balaji’s family and associates, disguising them as untainted money.
The case against Balaji was originally filed in July 2021 based on three FIRs lodged in 2018 by Tamil Nadu Police. The current complaint further supports these earlier claims with new evidence.
This high-profile case highlights the issue of corruption within the government recruitment processes, raising questions about the transparency and fairness of job placements in public departments. It has drawn attention nationally, casting a shadow over Tamil Nadu’s political landscape.
