High-profile DMK leader V Senthil Balaji, recently granted bail by the Supreme Court in a money laundering case, was sworn in as a minister by Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi. Balaji and three other DMK legislators took their oaths in the presence of Chief Minister M K Stalin at the Raj Bhavan.

Noting that the present Sessions Judge handing the cases against MPs/MLAs has a heavy caseload, the Supreme Court suggested that one more Sessions Judge be appointed to handle such cases and the trial of Senthil Balaji be handed over to the judge with a lesser load.