Senthil Balaji V

Senthil Balaji V was born on 21 October 1975, to P. Veluchamy and Rukmani, in Karur, Tamil Nadu. Coming from an agricultural family in Rameswarapatti, Karur district, he pursued his early education at Rameswarapatti Government School, later attending Vivekananda School in Pasupathypalayam and Municipal Higher Secondary School in Karur.

Balaji began his political journey at the young age of 21, becoming actively involved in public life by the late 1990s. His career officially started in 1997 when he became a member of the local body. In 2006, he secured a significant political victory, winning the Karur constituency as a candidate of the AIADMK. From 2011 to 2015, he served as the Transport Minister in the cabinet of then-Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. However, in July 2015, he was removed from the cabinet.

Following the passing of Jayalalithaa, Balaji played a key role in keeping the AIADMK government intact. He supported TTV Dhinakaran, the nephew of Jayalalithaa’s aide, VK Sasikala, during the party's split. His political career faced a challenge on 18 September 2017, when he was one of 18 MLAs disqualified by Speaker P Dhanapal for petitioning the Governor to change the Chief Minister.

On 14 December 2018, Balaji joined the DMK under the leadership of M K Stalin. Soon after, he was appointed as the District Secretary of Karur and became the party's candidate for the Aravakurichi by-election, which he won on 23 May 2019, marking his fourth term as an MLA.

On 14 June 2023, the ED arrested Balaji under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the alleged scam. He was subsequently sent to judicial custody and later hospitalised due to health complications. Despite multiple bail applications, both the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court initially denied his requests. The Supreme Court granted him bail on 26 September 2024, citing the prolonged delay in trial proceedings. ​

Amid mounting legal pressures, Balaji resigned from his ministerial position on 12 February 2024, ahead of a Supreme Court deadline. The Tamil Nadu Governor accepted his resignation the same day. Following his release on bail, Balaji was reappointed as the Minister for Electricity, Prohibition, and Excise on 28 September 2024. This move raised concerns about potential interference with ongoing investigations.

Balaji continues to face legal proceedings related to the alleged cash-for-jobs scam. The ED and other agencies are conducting investigations to determine the extent of the alleged corruption and its impact on public institutions.