The judicial remand of V Senthil Balaji, former Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK leader, has been extended until September 5 by a sessions court here on Tuesday. The decision comes as part of ongoing proceedings in a money laundering case related to a cash-for-jobs scam during his tenure as the transport minister from 2011 to 2015.
Senthil Balaji was arrested on June 14, 2023, by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and has been held in Central Puzhal Prison. The court proceedings were conducted via video conferencing, presided over by Principal Sessions Judge S Alli.
During Tuesday’s session, Harish Kumar, a key witness and former Karur branch manager of City Union Bank, was cross-examined by defense counsel Gouthaman. The cross-examination remains incomplete, prompting Judge Alli to schedule the next hearing for September 5.
The charges against Balaji stem from allegations that he was involved in a scheme that exchanged job placements in the transport sector for bribes during the AIADMK government’s rule. The case has been a significant focus of the ED as it involves substantial financial transactions and abuse of official position.
