The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday questioned Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji for the second consecutive day in connection with a money laundering case at ED's office in Chennai on Tuesday. The ED questioned the Minister for over 9 hours starting from 9 AM on Tuesday morning, sources told ANI.
Senthil Balaji, who continues to be a Minister without portfolio, was picked up by ED officials from Puzhal prison on Monday. The move came after Supreme Court dismissed the petition of the Minister and his wife Megala against the Madras HC order upholding ED's arrest as valid.
After Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji was taken from prison to the ED office, his advocate Bharani said, "I came here to give basic essentials to Senthil Balaji like soap, brush, and toothpaste. They didn't allow me to meet him. The officials got the things and checked them. They informed me that the items had been handed over.”
He said that he didn't meet Senthil Balaji and does not know about the enquiry.
On June 14, Minister Senthil Balaji was arrested by ED after a day of searches at his residence in Karur and other districts. After his arrest, ED started to question the then Electricity Minister Senthil Balaji. However, he complained of chest pain during the questioning.
He was taken to a government hospital in Chennai.
On June 15, he was shifted to a private hospital after Madras High Court permitted the shifting of the Minister. He was moved to Kauvery Hospital at Alwarpet.
The doctors then suggested that he undergoes a bypass surgery. The Minister later underwent a bypass surgery at the hospital and then on his discharge he was shifted to prison at Puzhal.
The ED started the raids based on the cash-for-job scam during his tenure as Transport Minister during the AIADMK government from 2011 to 2015.
ALSO READ: No-Trust Motion Debate: Amit Shah, Top Ministers To Speak Today. Oppn To Step Up Manipur Offensive