Balaji is accused of running a large-scale cash-for-jobs racket, allegedly collecting ₹3 crore from multiple individuals in exchange for government jobs at Aavin, the state-run dairy company.
Published Mar 17, 2025 | 10:20 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 17, 2025 | 10:20 PM
Synopsis: The Supreme Court has criticised the Tamil Nadu Governor for “deliberately delaying” approval for an investigation into former AIADMK minister KT Rajendra Balaji, who is accused of running a ₹3 crore cash-for-jobs scam during his tenure as Dairy Minister. The court criticised the Governor’s fresh request for translating 400 pages of case documents as an obstructionist tactic and directed the governor’s office to make a prompt decision.
The Supreme Court has criticised the Tamil Nadu Governor for what it described as a deliberate delay in approving the investigation against former AIADMK minister KT Rajendra Balaji, who is accused of running a cash-for-jobs scam while serving as Tamil Nadu’s Dairy Minister between 2016 and 2021.
During a hearing on Monday, 17 March, a two-judge bench comprising Justices Pankaj Mittal and SVN Bhatti slammed the Governor’s fresh request for the Tamil Nadu government to translate 400 pages of case-related documents, despite earlier stating that only key documents needed translation.
The court viewed this as a delaying tactic obstructing the case and ordered the Tamil Nadu government to provide the requested documents within two weeks.
In an earlier hearing, the court had summoned the Governor’s secretary to explain the lack of action. On March 14, an affidavit was filed, but no progress was made.
The Governor was directed to make a prompt decision, and the case was adjourned without a specified next hearing date.
Until then, the CBI has been barred from proceeding with the investigation.
The allegations against Rajendra Balaji stem from his tenure as Tamil Nadu’s Dairy Minister under the previous AIADMK government.
Balaji is accused of running a large-scale cash-for-jobs racket, allegedly collecting ₹3 crore from multiple individuals in exchange for government jobs at Aavin, the state-run dairy company.
Several complaints were filed against Balaji, including by S Ravindran and K Nallathambi, both of whom claimed they were defrauded of lakhs of rupees in exchange for securing jobs for their relatives.
In November 2021, the Virudhunagar District Crime Branch (DCB) registered a FIR based on Ravindran’s complaint. A second complaint by Nallathambi also accused Balaji of taking bribes from multiple individuals, bringing the total alleged fraud to ₹3 crore.
Balaji was arrested in January 2022 but granted interim bail by the Supreme Court on 25 November 25, on the condition that he surrender his passport and cooperate with the investigation.
According to DT Next, the Tamil Nadu police were accused of failing to file a chargesheet or making significant progress in the case. In January 2025, Ravindran approached the Madras High Court, seeking a court-monitored investigation into the job scam.
On January 6, 2025, the Madras High Court transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), citing delays in obtaining sanction to prosecute Balaji, the New Indian Express reported.
Following this order, the CBI formally registered a case on February 14, naming Balaji and his associates Vijaya Nallathambi and Mariyappan.
The investigation focused on alleged fraudulent job appointments that took place between November 2020 and February 2021.
However, the Tamil Nadu government approached the SC opposing the CBI probe, arguing that it was unnecessary and sought the Governor’s approval to proceed with its own investigation.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
