Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, visited Electricity Minister V. Senthilbalaji at the T.N. Government Multi Super-Specialty Hospital in Omandurar Estate, Chennai, where the Minister had been admitted after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate.
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Earlier, Mr. Stalin, had, on June 13, questioned the ED for searching the office of Mr. Senthilbalaji at the State Secretariat even though he had promised to cooperate with the investigation. The ED, had on June 13, searched Mr. Senthilbalaji’s office and his bungalow in Chennai and other places linked to him in Karur and Coimbatore, in connection with an alleged money laundering case.
Surgery advised at the earliest, says medical bulletin
A medical bulletin from the hospital stated that Mr. Senthilbalaji, 47, underwent a coronary angiogram at 10.40 a.m. on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. The angiogram revealed triple vessel disease, for which CABG-Bypass surgery was advised at the earliest, it said.
‘ED going beyond legal procedure’
In a statement issued on Wednesday, CM Stalin questioned the manner in which Mr. Senthilbalaji was interrogated and asserted that the DMK would not be afraid of the “intimidatory tactics” of the BJP. “The DMK will face the case legally. People are watching these acts of oppression and will teach them [BJP] a befitting lesson in [the Lok Sabha election in] 2024.” Mr. Stalin added.
The sleuths of the ED had harassed Mr. Senthilbalaji to such an extent that he had developed chest pain, Mr. Stalin charged. He further questioned why the Minister was allegedly harassed even after he had assured the ED of cooperation with the investigation.
The DMK president also asked whether it was necessary for the ED to “go beyond the legal procedure” with an “inhuman approach” and contended that such acts displayed the ill-intentions of those who were behind the ED sleuths. “Whatever be it the case, [Mr.] Senthilbalaji will face it. We will continue to be firm in our political stance,” Mr. Stalin said
The Minister’s arrest followed an 18-hour questioning at the Minister’s home in Chennai on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. After the questioning, Mr. Senthilbalaji was taken in a car at 2 a.m. on Wednesday, to the Government Multi Super Specialty Hospital at Omandurar Estate, Chennai for a medical check-up.
A number of his Cabinet colleagues including Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development Udhayanidhi Stalin, Health Minister Ma. Subramanian and PWD Minister E.V. Velu visited him at the hospital prior to the CM’s visit.
Only a few weeks ago, Income Tax officials had conducted week-long searches at the premises of the Mr. Senthilbalaji’s brother, V. Ashok Kumar, and acquaintances.
On May 16, the Supreme Court had paved the way for the Crime Branch to continue an investigation into Mr. Senthilbalaji, in a case where he is accused of taking bribes in exchange for jobs in the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC).
