The BJP has asked for immediate dismissal of Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister Sethil Balaji, taken into ED custody in a money laundering case, and said Chief Minister MK Stalin should ask Balaji to cooperate with the probe agency else the party will become a laughing stock. He said, "He (Balaji) is accused of taking money to give government jobs to ordinary citizens and there is a lot of accusations against him. It is a complete drama by DMK... ED called Senthil Balaji for interrogation, he is a minister, and it's his duty to cooperate with the investigation."
"I demand CM MK Stalin to dismiss Senthil Balaji from his ministry immediately and ask him to cooperate with the probe," he said.
Tamil Nadu minister Ponmudi said, "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 Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji broke down as Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials took him into custody in connection with a money laundering case and brought him to Omandurar Government in Chennai for medical examination. DMK Rajya Sabha MP NR Elango said, "Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji was picked up by ED & brought to Omandurar govt hospital." "It seems he was not conscious when he was admitted to the hospital. It is totally illegal and unconstitutional arrest. We will fight it legally," he added.
On Tuesday, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin condemned the ED raids at the residence and office of state Minister Senthil Balaji on Tuesday and said that the BJP was indulging in 'backdoor intimidation'. The CM also said that people are watching the 'intimidation politics'. ED raided the residence of Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji as part of a money laundering investigation.