TN Governor Keeps Dismissal Order Of Jailed Minister Senthil Balaji In Abeyance: Report

Chief Minister MK Stalin said the Governor had no power to dismiss the minister and his government would face it legally.

Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi dismissed jailed Minister V Senthil Balaji from the Council of Ministers

New Delhi: In a late night development, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Thursday informed CM MK Stalin about his decision to keep the dismissal order of jailed Minister V Senthil Balaji in abeyance, PTI reported quoting sources. 

The development came hours after the Governor dismissed V Senthil Balaji, accused in a money laundering case, from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect. Reacting to the Governor's action, Chief Minister M K Stalin said the governor has no power to dismiss the minister and his government would face it legally.

On June 14, the Enforcement Directorate arrested the minister in connection with the cash-for-jobs scam in the state Transport Department in 2014-2015 during former CM Jayalalithaa's regime.

“Minister Senthil Balaji is facing serious criminal proceedings in a number of cases of corruption including taking cash-for-jobs and money laundering. Abusing his position as a minister, he has been influencing the investigation and obstructing the due process of law and justice,” the Governor mentioned in a statement.

“Currently he is in judicial custody in a criminal case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate. Some more criminal cases against him under Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code are being investigated by the state police,” he said.

He said there were reasonable apprehensions that the continuation of Senthil Balaji in the Council of Ministers would adversely impact the due process of law including fair investigation that may eventually lead to breakdown of the constitutional machinery in the state.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the Chennai Sessions Court principal Judge on ordered an extension of judicial custody of Balaji till July 12. Senthil Balaji appeared in court through video conferencing from Kauvery Hospital. 

The judge earlier remanded Balaji to 14-day judicial custody from June 14.

Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji underwent Heart Coronary Artery Bypass surgery at Kauvery Hospital on June 21. Four bypass grafts were placed and coronary revascularization was established, as per the medical bulletin released by the hospital. 

"The Minister is currently hemodynamically stable and being monitored in a postoperative cardiothoracic intensive care unit by a multidisciplinary team of doctors and nurses," it said. 

On June 24, the ED submitted a memo to the sessions court urging to withdraw its request for custodial interrogation since it was unable to question the Minister due to his health.