A Chennai sessions court on Friday extended the remand of DMK Minister V Senthil Balaji, who was arrested in connection with a money laundering case till November 6, 2023.
The Principal Sessions Judge, S Alli, conducted the hearing through video-conferencing from the Puzhal Central Prison and decided to extend Balaji’s judicial custody.
Senthil Balaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on June 14 in connection with alleged irregularities in the selection of bus conductors, drivers, and junior engineers within the Tamil Nadu Transport Department. These appointments took place during Balaji’s tenure as the Transport Minister in the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government between 2011 and 2015. Balaji later aligned with the DMK in 2018.
Following his arrest, he required hospitalization and subsequently underwent a bypass surgery. Later, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) took him into their custody for interrogation. After the questioning, he was placed in judicial custody and confined in Puzhal jail. His custody is periodically extended by the court.
In the meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate filed a substantial 3,000-page charge sheet against Balaji on August 12. Furthermore, the Madras High Court, on October 19, dismissed a bail petition filed by Balaji, which marked the third time his bail application had been rejected, with the principal sessions court having dismissed it twice previously.
