A court in Chennai on Friday granted the Enforcement Directorate 8 days custody to interrogate Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji in connection with the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The court has asked ED to produce Balaji on June 23.
Principal Sessions Judge S Alli, checked up on Balaji's health through Video Conferencing before passing the order on his custody. Balaji is currently admitted at Kauvery Hospital following an order of the High Court allowing his transfer from Omandurar Government Hospital.
Enforcement Directorate had moved the custody petition claiming that Balaji did not cooperate with the investigation and that further probe is necessary to bring out the truth.
Additional Solicitor General ARL Sundaresan, assisted by N Ramesh, special Prosecutor for ED, submitted that Balaji had refused to sign and receive the summons and had started behaving in an intimidating manner, shouting and yelling at the officers at the time of his arrest. The authorities also submitted that though an attempt was made to record his statements, Balaji had refused to respond to any of the questions posed and continued to remain non-cooperative during the summon proceedings.
The ED further contended that based on the investigation conducted so far and the materials collected in the form of statements, submissions etc, the role played by Balaji is crucial for the investigation under the PMLA Act. It was contended that he is required to be confronted with other persons whose statements have been recorded, and to trace the end use of the huge money involved in the case.
Senior Counsel NR Elango, appearing for Balaji, however appraised the court of the order passed by the Madras High Court directing to shift Balaji to a private Hospital for medical treatment. He submitted that the High Court had considered the medical certificate issued by the Omandurar Hospital which showed that Balaji has a serious heart condition requiring emergency treatment and asked the court to consider the same.
Elango also submitted that the panchnama prepared by the ED shows that the Minister cooperated with the investigation and that custody was not required since the proceeds of the crime, being Rs. 1.34 crore, have already been recovered.
