Court Extends Ex-Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji’s Remand till Sept 3

A Chennai sessions court on Wednesday extended former Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji’s remand until September 3. Balaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on June 14, 2023, in a money laundering case.

Principal Sessions Judge S. Alli, before whom Senthil Balaji was produced via video-conferencing from Central Puzhal Prison, extended his judicial custody.

During the hearing, Harish Kumar (Listed Witness-1), an official of City Union Bank and formerly its Karur branch manager, was absent for cross-examination. As a result, the judge adjourned further proceedings to September 3, 2024.

Meanwhile, a division bench of the Madras High Court, comprising Justices S. M. Subramaniam and V. Sivagnanam, scheduled September 4 for the hearing on a petition filed by Senthil Balaji. The petition challenges an order from the Principal Sessions Judge refusing to discharge him from the case.

Last year, on June 14, 2023, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Senthil Balaji in connection with a money laundering case linked to the cash-for-jobs scam that occurred during his tenure as transport minister (2011-15) in the then AIADMK administration. Later in 2020, he switched to DMK.

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