Senthil Balaji’s Arrest By ED Is Legal, Probe Agency Entitled To Keep Him In Custody: Madras High Court

CHENNAI: In a giant setback to Tamil Nadu’s ruling social gathering, the Madras High Court on Friday mentioned that Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji’s arrest by Enforcement Directorate is legitimate. The High Court additionally upheld the ED custody of the jailed Tamil Nadu minister, saying the probe company is entitled to maintain him in its custody. The Madras High Court additional mentioned the time spent by Balaji in a hospital shall be excluded from the custody interval. The case has now been referred to a division bench of the excessive courtroom.

Balaji, who was arrested final month, is at present in jail amid legal proceedings in an alleged cash-for-jobs scandal. Interestingly, he had been retained as a minister with out portfolio by Chief Minister M Ok Stalin, a call that Governor Ravi had determined to unilaterally override.

In June, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi dismissed V Senthil Balaji, accused in a cash laundering case, from the Council of Ministers with instant impact. However, hours later, the Governor took again his contentious order to dismiss the jailed DMK Minister. Sources claimed that the Governor determined to maintain the dismissal order in abeyance until additional communication and in addition knowledgeable Chief Minister M Ok Stalin about it. 

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CM Stalin Hits Out At Governor

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Ok Stalin slammed Governor RN Ravi over the dismissal of jailed minister Senthil Balaji, saying he doesn’t have the correct to take action and his authorities will proceed legally within the matter. The minister had been arrested in reference to a cash-for-jobs rip-off case. Speaking to reporters within the wake of the arrest of the guy DMK chief, CM Stalin mentioned, “Governor doesn’t have the right (to dismiss a sitting minister) and we will face this legally.”

 Also lashing out on the Governor, DMK chief A Saravanan accused the Governor of undermining the Constitution, saying that the order, dismissing Balaji from the state’s council of ministers, will not be even well worth the paper it was drafted on.

“Who does the Governor thinks he is? Does he have the constitutional authority (to dismiss Senthil Balaji)? The Governor is undermining the constitution. He is catering to the Sanatan Dharma. The law of the land isn’t determined by the Sanatan Dharma. For a Governor, the constitution should be the Bible, Gita, and Quran. He is acting like a clown, trying to appease his political masters. His order isn’t even worth the paper it was drafted on. It must be consigned to the dustbin,” the DMK chief mentioned.

Former Union minister and Congress chief Manish Tewari, too, slammed the dismissal of the jailed minister, tweeting, “Article 164 of COI” The Chief Minister shall be appointed by the Governor and the opposite Ministers shall be appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Chief Minister… Since Ministers are appointed on the recommendation of the CM they are often eliminated ONLY on the recommendation of the CM. Unconstitutional Gov.”

However, BJP welcomed the Governor’s determination.