The Supreme Court agreed to urgently hear on July 31 an appeal filed by the former DMK Minister for Prohibition, Electricity and Excise, V. Senthilbalaji, against a Madras High Court refusal to grant him pre-arrest bail in a corruption case registered against him by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) on July 28. “The DVAC gleaned that a cognisable offence was made out owing to events that occurred between 2021 and 2025,” Mr. Rohatgi submitted. Mr. Tiwari said the case in which the ED had filed an affidavit was sub judice in the Supreme Court, and its proceedings remain stayed. Mr. Sibal added that there was a risk of his client’s bail being cancelled in the stayed case too due to the allegations made in the July 28 FIR of the DVAC. The Madras High Court had rejected V. Senthilbalaji’s advance bail petition earlier in the day, observing that it was a case requiring custodial interrogation.