City Court Extends Remand of Former TN Minister Senthil Balaji in Money Laundering Case

Chennai: In a major development, a sessions court on Thursday extended the judicial custody of former Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji til September 13. Balaji, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on June 14, 2023, faces charges related to a money laundering case.

The Principal Sessions Judge, S Alli, conducted the proceedings via video-conferencing, where Balaji appeared from the Central Puzhal Prison. The judge agreed to extend both his remand and judicial custody during the hearing.

Cross-examination of Key Witness

During the court session, Harish Kumar, a key witness and former manager of the Karur branch of City Union Bank, was cross-examined by the defense counsel Gouthaman. The witness's testimony could play a pivotal role in the case, which centers on allegations of a cash-for-jobs scam linked to Balaji’s tenure as Transport Minister between 2011 and 2015 under the AIADMK regime.

The judge has scheduled the next hearing for September 13.

(With PTI inputs)