Tamil Nadu excise minister Senthil Balaji breaks down in ED custody, hospitalised

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu DMK Minister for Electricity, Prohibition and Excise, V Senthil Balaji, broke down while being taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials for questioning in connection with an alleged money-laundering case in the wee hours of Wednesday.

The investigating agency took the DMK leader for questioning, after raiding his premises on Tuesday. Soon after this, ED brought Balaji to Omandurar government hospital in Chennai for medical examination amid tight security in the wee hours of Wednesday.

High drama was witnessed outside the hospital as the DMK leader was brought there. He could be seen crying in pain while lying in a car as his supporters gathered there to protest against the ED action.

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin met state minister V Senthil Balaji who is admitted to Omandurar government hospital, today

Balaji was admitted to the hospital after he was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate, in connection with a money laundering case.

(Photo source: TN govt) pic.twitter.com/vQ5lwN0YmG

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DMK MP and lawyer N R Elango said that Balaji has been shifted to the ICU and the ED has officially not confirmed Balaji’s arrest.

“I saw him (Senthil Balaji) when he was shifted to ICU. Doctors are evaluating his health condition. It is a procedure, when a person says he has been assaulted, the doctor needs to note down all the injuries and will know after seeing the report. Officially, we have not been informed (by ED) that he has been arrested”, Elango said.

DMK minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said, “Senthil Balaji is undergoing treatment. We will deal with it legally. We are not afraid of the threatening politics of the BJP-led central government”.

DMK leaders alleged that Balaji complained of chest pain while being taken into custody by the ED officials. They also alleged that Senthil Balaji didn’t seem conscious when he was taken to the hospital by ED.

Meanwhile, Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Udhyanithi Stalin, Health Minister M Subramaniyan, Public Works and Highways Minister EV Velu, HR&CE Minister Sekar Babu and various DMK supporters arrived at the hospital to meet Senthil Balaji.

Raids were carried out at Balaji’s Karur residence and his office at the state secretariat by the ED sleuths in connection to an alleged money-laundering case on Tuesday. In addition to this, the premises of his brother and a close aide in Karur were also raided.

Meanwhle, a team of Rapid Action Force (RAF) has been deployed at Omandurar Government Medical College in Chennai on Wednesday hours after Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji was taken for medical examination to the healthcare facility.

The Enforcement Directorate took Senthil into custody on Tuesday night night in connection with an alleged money laundering case. (ANI)