SC refuses to entertain medical bail plea of V Senthil Balaji stating, “Your sickness doesn’t appear to be serious or life-threatening”

On November 28, 2023, the Supreme Court (SC) refused to entertain the medical bail plea of Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) leader V Senthil Balaji, who ED (Enforcement Directorate) arrested in an alleged money laundering case (cash-for-jobs scam). While refusing to grant him bail, the bench of Justices Satish Chandra Sharma and Bela M Trivedi said, “Your sickness doesn’t appear to be serious or life-threatening”. Justice Trivedi added, “I had checked on Google. It says it can be cured.” During the court proceedings, the SC bench heard the contentions of both parties presented by Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. The final order of the bench reads, “Plea is dismissed as withdrawn. Any observations in the impugned order shall not come in the way of the regular bail application, to be considered in accordance. All contentions left open.”