Tamil Nadu Minister in Tears After ED Arrest
When Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji was arrested by the ED, broke down in front of the camera at the hospital and sobbed uncontrollably.
Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday 14 June 2023 by the Enforcement Directorate. He was arrested after being interrogated for 18 hours. Recently, Income Tax (IT) authorities searched the properties of Mr Balaji's associates across Tamil Nadu. This came after the Supreme Court allowed the Enforcement Directorate to continue its investigation into cash-for-jobs allegations against Mr Balaji dating back to when he was a minister during the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK regime. The Supreme Court had also allowed the agency to proceed with its investigation into the alleged money laundering case. This is why he was arrested by the ED. Following his arrest, Balaji complained of chest discomfort and was taken to the Government Multi Super Specialty Hospital in Chennai for a medical checkup. Senthil Balaji broke down in front of the camera at the hospital for a medical checkup. He was weeping and sobbing uncontrollably.
High drama unfolded outside the hospital premises as his supporters, who were standing outside the hospital started chanting slogans against the ED. He was then taken inside the hospital for checkup. Balaji was unconscious, exhibiting a swelling near his ears, and had variations in his ECG. Balaji is being closely monitored by doctors in the ICU. Doctors performed an Angiogram. Balaji has been advised a bypass surgery "at the earliest". Senior DMK ministers rushed to the hospital but were reportedly not allowed to meet the arrested minister. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also visited Mr Balaji at the hospital.
DMK ministers allege that the ED did not follow proper arrest protocol. Despite the outcry, the ED is yet to release any official statement regarding the arrest or searches. Top ED sources said they were yet to complete the arrest procedures as Balaji had variations in blood pressure and ECG. Mr. Balaji's wife has filed a petition in the Madras High Court against his arrest. The high court has agreed to an urgent hearing of the case. The DMK leader's wife alleged that the arrest was made without any notice or summons. The ED had also raided Balaji’s office at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat. Chief Minister Stalin condemned the searches at the Secretariat, saying that the BJP's "politics of threatening their political rivals through backdoor tactics" will not work. Mr Stalin further said that conducting a raid at the Secretariat is a violation of the federal structure of the country. The ruling DMK had accused the BJP of targeting the party in panic after being unseated in Karnataka in recent assembly elections. Chief Minister Stalin slammed the BJP-led central government for the raids on Mr Balaji and said the party is resorting to "politics of intimidation".
