The Enforcement Directorate (ED) started searches against Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji and others as part of a money laundering investigation on Tuesday. Last month, Income Tax department officials raided premises linked to DMK Minister Senthil Balaji.
According to PTI, officials said, “ED conducts searches against Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji, others as part of money laundering investigation.”
Addressing the reporters after the searches, Senthil Balaji said, "I don't know the purpose of the searches being conducted by the Enforcement Directorate. We will have to wait and see on that. However, I didn't get any prior information about this raid.
"I am ready to give full cooperation be it Enforcement Directorate or Income Tax Department. Also, I am ready to give explanations if they need it,” he said, as per ABP Nadu.
On May 26, Income Tax department raided 40 locations related to the kin of Minister Senthil Balaji across Tamil Nadu. Even the residence of the Minister's brother was raided during that time.
Senthil Balaji is a senior leader of DMK from Karur. He is a heavyweight in the region and has established his dominance by winning against Former Transport Minister Vijayabhaskar.
Senthil Balaji was initially with AIADMK but he quit the party and floated to DMK. Later, he was appointed as the Electricity Minister in the DMK cabinet.
Earlier, DMK alleged that the Centre was using agencies including Income Tax Department and ED to avenge opposition leaders. DMK organising secretary R. S. Bharathi said that the Centre was acting against the party leaders as it was unable to "digest the popularity of the DMK and its leaders in Tamil Nadu".