TN Governor clears ED plea to prosecute Senthil Balaji in cash-for-jobs scam case In its complaint against Senthil Balaji, the ED alleged that he had indulged in money laundering after collecting cash from job aspirants in the Transport Department during his tenure as a minister in the AIADMK government between 2011 and 2016.
thenewsminute
SOUTH CENTRAL
SUBSCRIBER ONLY
PODCAST
VIDEO
LONG FORM
FLIX
SUBSCRIBE
Tamil Nadu
TN Governor clears ED plea to prosecute Senthil Balaji in cash-for-jobs scam case
In its complaint against Senthil Balaji, the ED alleged that he had indulged in money laundering after collecting cash from job aspirants in the Transport Department during his tenure as a minister in the AIADMK government between 2011 and 2016.
V. Senthil Balaji
V. Senthil Balaji
Written by:Shabbir Ahmed
Edited by:Vidya Sigamany
Published on:
07 Jun 2026, 7:09 pm
Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Arlekar has accorded sanction to allow the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) to prosecute former DMK minister V Senthil Balaji in connection with the multi-crore cash-for-jobs scam case.
Tamil Nadu government sources confirmed to TNM that the file seeking the Governor’s nod to prosecute Senthil Balaji was cleared by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay last week and sent for the Governor’s approval. Since Senthil Balaji had been a minister, it was mandatory to obtain the Governor’s approval, as he is the sanctioning authority.
The alleged Transport Department cash-for-jobs scam first surfaced in 2015 when a man named Devasahayam S approached the Chennai Police, alleging that intermediaries had demanded Rs 2.6 lakh to secure a job for his son in the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC). According to the complaint, the promised appointment never materialised and the money was not returned.
The Central Crime Branch subsequently registered an FIR against several individuals accused of collecting money from job aspirants by promising employment as drivers, conductors, and mechanics in state transport corporations. One complainant claimed that Rs 2.31 crore had been handed over to Senthil Balaji, who was the then Transport Minister, in the presence of his brother Ashok Kumar and brother-in-law Karthik.
The Madras High Court directed a fresh probe and the CCB filed a supplementary chargesheet in 2021 naming Senthil Balaji, Ashok Kumar, Karthik, and several Transport Department officials. The chargesheet alleged irregularities in the recruitment process, including manipulation of appointments and interview marks.
The case formed the basis of the ED’s money laundering investigation, which led to Senthil Balaji’s arrest in June 2023, by when he was part of the DMK. The ED had filed a prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before a special court in Chennai.
V. Senthil Balaji
Explained: The transport job scam that TN Min Senthil Balaji has been arrested for
In its complaint against the DMK leader, the ED alleged that he had indulged in money laundering after collecting cash from job aspirants in the Transport Department during his tenure as a minister in the AIADMK government between 2011 and 2016.
Sources told TNM that the ED had approached the Tamil Nadu government seeking sanction to prosecute Senthil Balaji. “The ED had routed its plea through the Governor’s office in May 2025 and it was forwarded to the Chief Secretary’s office in September 2025,” a source said.
The then Chief Secretary returned the file to the Governor’s office in October 2025, stating that the prosecuting agency should approach the government directly and not through the Governor’s office.
In February 2026, the Governor’s office wrote to the ED asking it to approach the government directly. On May 15, 2026, the ED formally approached the Tamil Nadu government through the Chief Secretary’s office seeking permission to prosecute Senthil Balaji. The agency attached relevant documents along with a confidential note detailing the case. By this time, a new government under the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam led by Vijay had taken over reins in the state.
According to sources, CM Vijay cleared the ED file, following which it was sent to the Governor’s office for approval.
Tamil Naducash for job scam
Subscriber Picks
Behind Annamalai’s exit from BJP | Powertrip #151
Behind Annamalai’s exit from BJP | Powertrip #151
Dhanya Rajendran
02 Jun 2026
Composite image of Monalisa Bhosle and Farman Khan wearing red flower garlands after their wedding ceremony. The couple stands in the foreground, while faded background visuals show crowds, cameras, and documents, reflecting the public and political controversy surrounding their marriage.
How old is Monalisa Bhosle? Two states & many truths behind an interreligious marriage
Lakshmi Priya
28 May 2026
Siddaramaiah asked to resign | Powertrip #150
Siddaramaiah asked to resign | Powertrip #150
Dhanya Rajendran
26 May 2026
Congress thinks alliance with Vijay will yield dividends | Powertrip #149
Congress thinks alliance with Vijay will yield dividends | Powertrip #149
Pooja Prasanna
19 May 2026
Join our WhatsApp Channel
Karnataka
Mother and alleged partner accused of murdering six-year-old girl in Bengaluru
Following a complaint by her father Praveen Basappa, police booked his estranged wife, advocate P Priyanka, and her alleged partner Mohan G Mahalingappa, a real estate developer, on charges of murder.
Representative image of silhouette of a child looking out a window
Representative image of silhouette of a child looking out a window
Written by:TNM Staff
Published on:
07 Jun 2026, 6:59 pm
More than two months after a six-year-old girl was found dead under suspicious circumstances in Bengaluru’s Kadugodi area, the police have registered a murder case against her mother and the mother’s alleged partner. The case was lodged based on a complaint lodged by the child’s father.
The case relates to the death of Vennela, who was found dead on March 25 at a rented villa in Seegehalli under the Kadugodi police station limits. Following a complaint by her father Praveen Basappa, police booked his estranged wife, advocate P Priyanka, and her alleged partner Mohan G Mahalingappa, a real estate developer, on charges of murder.
Police have arrested Mohan and secured seven days of custody for interrogation. Priyanka is currently absconding, and efforts are under way to trace her.
According to the complaint, Praveen and Priyanka had been married for 17 years and have two daughters. Praveen alleged that problems emerged in their marriage in 2025 after Priyanka travelled to Bengaluru for a legal matter and reconnected with her former college classmate Mohan. He claimed the two later began living together after she sought a divorce. While the couple’s elder daughter remained with Praveen, Vennela stayed with Priyanka.
While explaining the circumstances surrounding Vennela’s death, Priyanka allegedly told family members that she had fed Vennela biryani and ice cream before leaving her asleep inside a car with the air conditioning running while she went out with Mohan. She said that she carried the sleeping child into the house after returning home.
The following morning, Vennela did not wake up. She was taken to Vydehi Hospital in Whitefield, where doctors declared her brought dead.
Initially, police registered a case of unnatural death and suspected food poisoning. However, the post mortem report did not conclusively establish the cause of death. Police also noticed inconsistencies in the explanations provided about the circumstances preceding the child’s death and sent viscera samples for forensic examination. Suspicion deepened after Mohan moved for anticipatory bail soon after the incident.
Praveen told police that after obtaining the post mortem report, he shared it with his sister, a paediatric specialist based in the United Kingdom. According to the complaint, she expressed concerns that the circumstances pointed to possible foul play.
Based on these concerns, Praveen approached the police alleging that his daughter had been murdered. In his complaint, he alleged that the child had been assaulted and smothered before being taken to hospital. He also questioned the different explanations given regarding her death.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Whitefield) Saidulu Adavat said the police initially did not have the complete post mortem findings when Mohan obtained anticipatory bail. He said police later relied on medical and circumstantial evidence while challenging that relief, following which Mohan’s anticipatory bail was cancelled.
Police have now converted the case into a homicide investigation and are examining multiple possibilities, including whether the child was suffocated after being left inside the vehicle or whether poisoning may have played a role. Police are awaiting the final forensic report and expert medical opinions before arriving at definitive conclusions.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Crime
Subscriber Picks
Behind Annamalai’s exit from BJP | Powertrip #151
Behind Annamalai’s exit from BJP | Powertrip #151
Dhanya Rajendran
02 Jun 2026
Composite image of Monalisa Bhosle and Farman Khan wearing red flower garlands after their wedding ceremony. The couple stands in the foreground, while faded background visuals show crowds, cameras, and documents, reflecting the public and political controversy surrounding their marriage.
How old is Monalisa Bhosle? Two states & many truths behind an interreligious marriage
Lakshmi Priya
28 May 2026
Siddaramaiah asked to resign | Powertrip #150
Siddaramaiah asked to resign | Powertrip #150
Dhanya Rajendran
26 May 2026
Congress thinks alliance with Vijay will yield dividends | Powertrip #149
Congress thinks alliance with Vijay will yield dividends | Powertrip #149
Pooja Prasanna
19 May 2026
Join our WhatsApp Channel
thenewsminute
About Us
Terms and Conditions
Privacy policy
Grievance Redressal
Disclaimer
Contact us
© thenewsminute 2026
Powered by Quintype
notification icon
