The Enforcement Directorate is conducting several raids in Anna Nagar, Mylapore, and Teynampet areas of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. According to news agency ANI, ED officials have launched simultaneous searches across the state over allegations of large-scale tax evasion in the sale of sand mined from riverbeds.
According to ANI, the Enforcement Directorate is currently conducting raids at locations related to a close associate of Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji, who is accused in an alleged cash-for-jobs scandal.
ANI quoting sources reported that around 10 locations linked to the aide of the minister are currently undergoing searches in Tamil Nadu, with further details expected to emerge.
Senthil Balaji was arrested by ED officials on June 14 in connection with the cash-for-jobs controversy. He was subsequently presented before the MP/MLAs Special Court in Chennai.
Earlier, the special MP/MLA court extended Balaji's judicial custody until September 15. Additionally, the court provided the arrested DMK minister with a copy of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) chargesheet as sought by his lawyer.
Last week, the Madras High Court expressed observed that retaining V Senthil Balaji as a minister without a portfolio in the Tamil Nadu Cabinet led by MK Stalin served no meaningful purpose. The bench opined that such a move does not align with the principles of good governance and administrative integrity. This observation was made during the consideration of petitions brought forward by two advocates and former AIADMK MP J Jayavardhan before the first bench, composed of Chief Justice S V Gangapurwala and Justice P. D. Audikesavalu.
The high court bench recommended that the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu carefully consider the continuation of V Senthil Balaji, who is currently in judicial custody, as a Minister without a specific portfolio in the state cabinet. They argue that this continuation lacks purpose and does not align with the fundamental principles of Constitutional ethics related to integrity, good governance, and administrative purity.
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