Special Court Warns Transport Scam Accused Against Delaying Proceedings
A special court in Chennai warns accused in the transport department scam to avoid delays, threatening to revoke bail for non-compliance.
Chennai, November 12 (Daily Kiran) : A special court in Chennai has issued a stern warning to the accused in the high-profile transport department job scam in Tamil Nadu. The judge emphasized that any unnecessary delays in the proceedings will not be tolerated. He stated that if the accused submit ‘discharge petitions’ at their convenience, their bail will be revoked.
The Central Crime Branch (CCB) initiated the case in 2018, alleging that during the AIADMK regime from 2011 to 2015, jobs in the transport department were sold for money. It is claimed that substantial amounts were extorted from candidates in exchange for employment. Three cases have been filed against former transport minister V. Senthil Balaji, his brother Ashok Kumar, and over 2,200 others related to this alleged scam.
On Wednesday, the special court, located within the Chennai district collectorate, heard these three cases. This court primarily deals with cases involving MPs and MLAs. During the hearing, former minister Senthil Balaji and several other accused were present.
The judge made it clear that the court will not entertain individual ‘discharge petitions’ filed by each accused. He instructed all defendants to submit their petitions within a specified timeframe and to inform the court in advance of their intentions. The judge noted that the filing of separate petitions was causing unnecessary delays, which the court cannot accept.
He further warned that any attempts to prolong the proceedings without justification would not be allowed. The judge reiterated that if accused individuals file ‘discharge petitions’ at their convenience, their bail would be canceled. The court also stressed the importance of respecting the hearing process and adhering to the established timelines.
