The remand of Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji, who was arrested in connection with a money laundering case, has been extended to judicial custody until August 8, 2023, by a sessions court in the city on Wednesday. Principal Sessions Judge S Alli presided over the case, and Balaji was produced through video conferencing from Puzhal Prison in Chennai. This marked an extension of his remand, which was previously extended twice and was set to end on July 26, 2023.
Balaji, a member of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on June 14 for his involvement in a cash-for-jobs scam during his tenure as Transport Minister in the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) administration.
Despite previously handling the Electricity and Prohibition and Excise portfolios in the current DMK regime, Balaji is presently a Minister without portfolio due to his ongoing legal troubles. His arrest and the subsequent legal proceedings have undoubtedly cast a shadow over his political career.
