Chennai Court Extends Senthil Balaji’s Judicial Custody Till July 26

A Chennai court on Wednesday extended the judicial custody of Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji until July 26, 2023.

The remand extension was granted by Principal Sessions S Judge Alli, following an application filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

This decision came after an interim order was issued by Justice C V Karthikeyan of the Madras High Court, allowing the Principal Sessions Judge to proceed with the case while the habeas corpus petition filed by the minister’s wife is still pending.

Balaji, who served as the Transport Minister during the previous AIADMK regime, was arrested on June 14 by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with a cash-for-jobs scam.

Since then, he has been admitted to the hospital and has undergone a coronary bypass surgery.