Madras HC upholds ED’s right to seek custody of Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji

The Madras High Court on Friday ruled that the Enforcement Directorate is entitled to seek the custody of Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji in a money-laundering case, reported Live Law.

The ruling was delivered by Justice CV Karthikeyan, who was the third judge to whom the matter was referred to following a split verdict by the division bench of Justices Nisha Banu and Bharatha Chakravarthy on a plea challenging Balaji’s arrest.

The plea filed by Balaji’s wife had alleged that he had been illegally detained by the Enforcement Directorate.

The central agency had arrested Balaji on June 14 on the allegations of conspiring with transport corporation officials to appoint candidates recommended by his aides. The Enforcement Directorate claimed that crores of rupees were taken as bribes from candidates in exchange for jobs.

After his arrest, Balaji complained of heart ailment and is currently admitted to the Kauvery Hospital in Chennai. He underwent a bypass surgery on June 21.

On Friday, Justice Karthikeyan ruled against Balaji’s release.

“The fact that respondents [Enforcement Directorate] can take custody for further investigation cannot be denied,’ he said. “The respondent, in this case, had a right to get custody. I would align my opinion with the reason given by Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy in this aspect”.

Justice Karthikeyan accepted the argument made...

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