Chennai sessions court on Thursday extended the remand of Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji until January 11, 2024.
The DMK leader, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on June 14, 2023, in a money laundering case is currently held at Puzhal prison.
Principal Sessions Judge S Alli, before whom Balaji was produced by the prosecution through video-conferencing from the prison, extended his judicial custody.
The minister was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with alleged irregularities in the selection of bus conductors, drivers, and junior engineers within the Tamil Nadu Transport Department. These appointments occurred during Balaji’s tenure as the Transport Minister in the AIADMK government between 2011 and 2015. Subsequently, Balaji joined the DMK in 2018.
Following his arrest, Senthil Balaji underwent bypass surgery at a private hospital. Subsequently, the ED took him into custody for interrogation, and he has since been in judicial custody with the court periodically extending his remand.