Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthil Balaji Detained in Money Laundering Investigation

The Enforcement Directorate arrested Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister V. Senthil Balaji in a money-laundering case on Wednesday early morning. The arrest came after an 18-hour questioning at Senthilbalaji’s residence in Chennai, according to a report by The Hindu.

Following the questioning, at 2 a.m. Wednesday, Senthil Balaji was taken in a car for a medical checkup at Government Multi Super Specialty Hospital in Chennai. Three vehicles carrying documents followed them.

Ministers Udhayanidhi Stalin, M. Subramanian, and E.V. Velu visited the hospital, while Minister Sekar Babu stated that Senthil Balaji is unconscious and under ICU observation. N.R. Elango, a DMK Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate, claimed that the family members and others were not informed by the ED officials about Senthilbalaji’s arrest.

The Enforcement Directorate has arrested #TamilNadu Electricity Minister #VSenthilbalaji in a money-laundering case, sources have confirmed. The arrest followed an 18-hour questioning at his home in #Chennai, reports @SIVARAMAN74. | Video: M Karunakaran https://t.co/v3TEyOfMqL pic.twitter.com/IdtmlWQNQx

— The Hindu – Chennai (@THChennai) June 14, 2023

A team of Rapid Action Force (RAF) has been deployed at Omandurar Government Medical College in Chennai Senthil Balaji was taken for medical examination to the healthcare facility. Meanwhile, heavy security has been deployed near Karur bus stand.

The ED had launched searches at locations linked to Balaji at Chennai, Karur and Erode on Tuesday as part of probe into money laundering. The action came months after the Supreme Court allowed a police and ED probe into an alleged cash for jobs scam against the DMK strongman.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin dubbed it an “intimidation tactic” by the Narendra Modi Government.

This is a revengeful act. The Union government is doing many wrong things against states where there is a non-BJP government like in West Bengal, Delhi and here, Tamil Nadu minister Ponmudi said.

Last month, the Income-tax department too had searched people close to Balaji in the stat

Balaji, a senior DMK leader from Karur, also holds the Prohibition and Excise portfolio.