Advertisement
Tamil Nadu: On Thursday, a Tamil Nadu Sessions Court extended the remand of DMK leader and Minister V. Senthil Balaji until January 11. On June 14, 2023, the Enforcement Directorate arrested Balaji in connection with a money laundering case related to a cash-for-jobs scandal during his tenure as the Transport Minister in a previous AIADMK government.
Principal Sessions Judge S Alli, before whom Balaji was produced by the prosecution through video-conferencing from the prison, extended his judicial custody. Balaji, presently held at Puzhal prison, underwent bypass surgery at a private hospital soon after his arrest.
Balaji was arrested by the ED in connection with a money laundering case linked to a cash-for-jobs scam when he was the Transport Minister during an earlier AIADMK regime. The Principal Sessions Judge, S Alli, presiding over the case, adjourned the hearing to January 8 after ED’s counsel N Ramesh requested time to file a counter affidavit.
Soon after his arrest, he underwent a bypass surgery at a private hospital. Later, the ED took him into custody for interrogation and following that he was remanded in judicial custody. His remand was periodically extended by the court. In his petition, the DMK leader argued that the ED couldn’t identify the alleged ill-gotten sources of income, asserting they were either unavailable or part of the petitioner’s disclosed income.
Balaji contended that the ED, lacking valid documentation, couldn’t legitimately pursue the investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED, however, claims the income sources were connected to an appointment scam. Balaji emphasised that all his transactions constituted legitimate income, duly declared in financial statements, and should not be treated as ill-gotten or illegitimate.
He argued that the ED’s case was unlawful and illegal, citing the proof of his income. Arrested on June 14, Balaji underwent bypass surgery post-arrest. Subsequently, the ED took him into custody for interrogation, leading to repeated extensions of his judicial custody. The ED filed a 3,000-page charge sheet against Balaji in August 2023. The Madras High Court dismissed his bail petition on October 19 after two prior bail applications were rejected by the PSJ.
