New Delhi: Cash amounting to Rs 22 lakh and unaccounted valuables worth Rs 16.6 lakh were recovered from the premises of a driver after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted fresh searches against Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji over his alleged link to a money laundering case, news agency PTI reported. According to the report, the raids were conducted at nine locations in Coimbatore and Karur districts on August 3.
According to the report, the probe agency conducted fresh searches based on an input that Balaji’s “close associate” ST Saminathan had "incriminating documents/proceeds of crime and was attempting to hide/transfer them".
During the searches at his aide Saminathan’s premises, ED said it discovered that his sister-in-law Shanthi was "acting as his benami and was seen moving bags containing documents and valuables".
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However, Shanthi was not present when ED reached her premises. Further, CCTV footage showed she handed over the bags to a driver identified as Shiva, ED said, as reported by PTI.
"During the search at Shiva's residence, cash amounting to Rs 22 lakh and unaccounted valuables worth Rs 16.6 lakh along with unexplained property documents for 60 land parcels were found," the probe agency said, adding the driver has “admitted” that Shanthi had given him the bags "out of fear that incriminating details would be discovered".
The Enforcement Directorate further alleged that it appears the seized property and cash belong to Saminathan.
It is to be noted that V Senthil Balaji, who is currently lodged at Puzhal central jail under judicial custody in Chennai, was arrested by ED on June 14 in a money laundering case linked to the alleged cash-for-jobs scam in the state transport department.