Chennai, Nov 23: A Principal Sessions Court on Wednesday evening extended till December four the judicial remand of Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case.
Mr. Senthilbalaji, undergoing treatment at the Omandurar Super Multi-speciality hospital, was produced before Principal Sessions Judge Ms. S. Alli via video conferencing. After ascertaining his health condition, the Court extended his judicial remand for the 11th time until December four.
During the proceedings, counsel for ED N. Ramesh responded to Balaji’s petition, which requested the agency to provide copies of seized documents from the investigation. Mr. Ramesh submitted that all the related documents in connection with the case had already been submitted to the court and provided to the Minister as well.
The judge later adjourned further hearing in the case to December 4. Mr. Senthilbalaji was arrested on June 14 in the cash-for-jobs scam and underwent a bypass surgery at a private hospital in the city.
The Minister, who complained of chest pain while being taken to the ED office for questioning after his arrest, was admitted to the Omandurar hospital, where an angiogram revealed blocks in his heart. Following this, he underwent a coronary bypass surgery in a private hospital, where he was shifted based on a Madras High Court order on a habeas corpus petition filed by his wife.
After the surgery, he was shifted to Puzhal Central Prison. A few days back, Mr. Senthilbalaji complained of numbness in his leg and was taken to Government Stanley Medical College hospital from where he was admitted to the Omandurar hospital, where an MRI scan revealed that he was suffering from serious implications.
Based on the medical report, Counsel for the Minister without portfolio moved the Supreme Court seeking bail on the ground that Mr. Balaji might suffer a paralytic attack. The plea was pending before the Apex Court. It may be noted that Mr. Balaji’s bail plea had already been dismissed both by the High Court and the Sessions Court.
