Balaji seeks to stay final order, court asks ED to file reply
CHENNAI: A sessions court directed the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) to file a counter to the petitions filed by V Senthilbalaji seeking to stay the final order on his discharge plea from the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case.
Jailed former minister V Senthilbalaji moved three petitions before the principal sessions court Chennai seeking to stay the final order. The case was listed before the principal sessions judge, S Alli.
Senthilbalaji submitted his petitions seeking to stay the judgment of the discharge petition, as the appeal against the dismissal of his plea seeking to stay the PMLA case proceedings till the case registered against him under the same charges by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) is disposed of. The complaint is related to the allegation of promised government jobs in the transport department by receiving bribes. This appeal will be heard on June 21 before the High Court.
It is also submitted that Senthilbalaji is moving to file an appeal against the dismissal of his plea seeking to serve the bank documents related to the PMLA case. Hence, the former minister sought to stay the final orders on his discharge petition. After the perusal of the petitions, the judge posted the matter on June 25 and directed the ED to file a counter.
Senthilbalaji was produced before the sessions court through video conferencing from the Puzhal Central Prison, Chennai. Recording his appearance, the judge extended his judicial custody
The case was registered against alleged cashfor-jobs scam during Senthilbalaji’s Transport min tenure under AIADMK
until June 25.
He was arrested under PMLA by the ED on June 14, 2023, at his residence in Chennai. The case was registered against an alleged cash-forjobs scam during his tenure as Transport Minister in the then AIADMK regime. He was sent under judicial custody on the same day. Senthilbalaji has been in prison for the past year, and the sessions court and the High Court dismissed a few bail pleas.