Chennai, Sep 26 (Reporter) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M K Stalin on Thursday welcomed former Minister V.Senthilbalaji, who was granted bail in a money laundering case after 471 days, and said in the present scenario where the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was used to suppress political opponent, the Apex Court is the only dawn. In a social media post, Mr Stalin said "Mr beloved brother brother Senthilbalaji has been granted bail by the Supreme Court after 471 days." In the current scenario, where the ED has been turned into a department to suppress the political opponents, the Supreme Court is the only dawn for it, he said. Mr Stalin said even during the Emergency no one was lodged in jail life for so many days. "Political conspiracies continued for 15 months", he said. "By arresting him and keeping him in jail, they wanted to break the resolve of brother Senthil Balaji", Mr Stalin said. "I welcome Brother Senthil Balaji, who will come out of prison with renewed vigour", he said. "Your sacrifice is great! your will power is even greater than that!", he added. Mr Senthilbalaji was arrested on June 14 last year, after day long ED raids at his residence and at his Ministerial Chamber in the State Secretariat, in connection with cash-for-jobs scam during his tenure as the Transport Minister during the previous AIADMK regime Later, he quit the party and joined the DMK and was made Minister after the party came to power in the May 2021 Assembly polls. After his arrest, the former Electricity Minister, who is also a DMK strongman, continued to be retained in the State Cabinet by Mr Stalin as a Minister without portfolio. Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi too objected his continunance in the State Cabinet and even dismissed him. But had kept it in abeyance on the advise of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The Governor's action triggered strong reaction from the Chief Minister. The High Court also too exception to his continuance in the Cabinet. However, Mr Senthilbalaji had resigned as Minister in February this year. Soon after his arrest, he complained of chest pain while being taken to the ED Office, following which he was admitted to Omandurar Multi-Super Speciality Hospital at the Government Estate. After an angiogram revealed blocks in his heart, he was advised to undergo a coronary bypass surgery at a private hospital, where he had been periodically taking treatment prior to his arrest, on the orders of the Madras High Court on a habeas corpus petition filed by his wife. The ED had, in August 2023, filed a charge sheet, running to 3,000 pages against the Minister with supported documents at the Principal Sessions Court. His bail was rejected both by the Sessions Court and the Madras High Court following which he moved the Supreme Court. Mr Senthilbalaji was expected to be released by this evening from Puzhal Central Prison after executing the sureties and after producing the copy of the Apex Court order granting bail to him. Meanwhile, police have deployed tight security in front of the prison, as a large number of DMK workers, carrying the party flag, gathered and celebrated the Apex Court verdict by bursting crackers. In his native town of Karur, DMK workers and his supporters also celebrated it by bursting crackers and distributing sweets. Similar celebrations were also held in various parts of the State. Mr Stalin's Cabinet colleagues, including Law Minister S.Reghupathy and Health Minister Ma.Subramanian also welcomed the Supreme Court order and said the former Minister had waged a long legal battle...////...