Supreme Court Dismisses TN Minister’s Plea, Allows ED Custody in Money Laundering Case

New Delhi, August 7, 2023: The Supreme Court dealt a blow to Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji and his wife, dismissing their petitions challenging the Madras High Court’s ruling that upheld the legality of his arrest in a money laundering case.

The court further granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) permission to detain him for five days until Saturday, August 12.

The Madras High Court’s July 14 order, which affirmed Balaji’s arrest by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) regarding the cash-for-job scam unearthed in 2015 within the state’s transport department, remained upheld by the Supreme Court. During this period, Balaji had been serving as the transport minister. The Madras HC also validated his subsequent remand in judicial custody by a sessions court.

The charges against Balaji are connected to his tenure as Transport Minister between 2011 and 2015, a period under the AIADMK regime. The Enforcement Directorate initiated proceedings after the DMK assumed power in Tamil Nadu.

Senthil Balaji’s arrest took place on June 14, following an extensive 18-hour-long interrogation and search of his official residence and chamber at the state Secretariat. The intensity of the situation led to his hospitalization due to chest pain, ultimately undergoing a coronary artery bypass surgery.

With the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the petitions, Balaji finds himself facing the prospect of custody as the Enforcement Directorate exercises its authority. As legal proceedings unfold, the case highlights the efforts to combat corruption and ensure accountability within the political landscape, sending a stern message against misuse of power.