Overview

• The Supreme Court refused to entertain V. Senthil Balaji’s application to expunge or clarify its April remarks and allowed him to withdraw the plea.
• Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said the earlier order did not bar him from returning as a minister but warned that bail could be cancelled if he uses office to influence witnesses.
• The Court issued notice on petitions seeking clubbing of charge-sheets in the cash-for-jobs cases and asked Tamil Nadu to furnish complete lists of accused and witnesses.
• The bench orally proposed moving the trial to a neutral venue such as Delhi with a dedicated court and online depositions to avoid a charged local atmosphere, a suggestion the State opposed.
• Solicitor General Tushar Mehta questioned the timing of Balaji’s plea following Justice A.S. Oka’s retirement, as the Court recalled earlier concerns over mass arraignments of over 2,000 accused.