How Senthil Balaji’s arrest unleashed controversy and conspiracy theories
“I’m informed there’s a raid…. I’m not conscious of the main points. I’ll verify and make a press release,” Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthil Balaji informed mediapersons ready outdoors his official residence on Greenways Highway in Chennai, earlier than he vanished into the home at 8.50 a.m. on June 13.
He got here out at 1.45 a.m. on June 14, virtually 17 hours later, clutching his chest and carrying the identical garments that he had worn when he went in. The Minister was helped into an Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) automobile, and as he lay on the seat he seemed to be in nice discomfort. The automobile sped away. Mediapersons who adopted the automobile have been puzzled when it pulled into the Tamil Nadu Authorities Multi Tremendous Specialty Hospital, positioned within the Omandurar Authorities Property. The Minister, because the occasions unfolding on reside TV made clear, had a well being situation.
His lawyer N.R. Elango knowledgeable the Madras Excessive courtroom later: “There may be not even a whisper on what was happening from 9.30 a.m, on June 13 to 11 p.m. that day. There may be additionally no file to point out what transpired from that point to 1.39 a.m. on June 14, when he was arrested by the ED.” The ED had managed to get custody of the Minister till June 28.
Additionally Learn | Controversial arrest of Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji sparks outrage and political backlash
The case in opposition to the Minister
Senthil Balaji, who first turned a member of the Tamil Nadu Meeting in 2006 as an AIADMK member when he was barely 30, rose rapidly within the ranks whereas incomes a fame of being an environment friendly organiser. In 2011, Jayalalithaa, the AIADMK supremo, made him a Minister. After Jayalalithaa’s loss of life, he joined the T.T.V. Dhinakaran faction, and moved get together once more to hitch the DMK in 2018. It was throughout his tenure as Transport Minister that Senthil Balaji is alleged to have manipulated marks of candidates showing for varied examinations within the division, in a cash-for-jobs rip-off.
Three FIRs have been filed in opposition to him, his brother Ashok Kumar, and his private assistant Shanmugham in reference to the rip-off. The FIRs alleged that the three entered right into a legal conspiracy with the Managing Administrators of government-owned transport firms with the intention to present jobs after taking money. The rip-off got here to mild when a few of those that paid money alleged that they neither received the roles nor their a refund. Three of them—Arulmani, S. Devasagayam, and V. Ganesh Kumar—most popular complaints at the moment. The circumstances are pending earlier than the Further Particular Courtroom for Trial of Circumstances For Members of Parliament and Members of the Legislative Meeting, Chennai.
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Senthil Balaji’s arrest in reference to a money-laundering case has brought about controversy in Tamil Nadu’s political panorama.
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Textual content by R.Ok. Radhakrishnan; Edited and produced by Saatvika Radhakrishna.
Transport Company officers who have been summoned within the case admitted to many irregularities within the recruitment course of. Regardless of this, not one of the essential accused appeared earlier than the investigation authorities though they have been summoned a number of occasions.
It was the admission of a settlement with the victims that led to the present woes for the Minister. After Senthil Balaji was sworn in as Minister, he and his private assistant named within the case, approached the Excessive Courtroom to quash the legal circumstances, claiming that that they had come to an settlement with the complainants. This caught the eye of the ED. In accordance with the Madras Excessive Courtroom, a complete of 81 individuals have been victims of the rip-off. Of this, solely the circumstances of 13 who had utilized for the submit of Junior Engineer have been investigated. The remaining circumstances are beneath investigation.
“Three FIRs have been filed in opposition to him, his brother Ashok Kumar, and his private assistant Shanmugham in reference to the rip-off.”
The Supreme Courtroom got here down closely on the investigation on Could 16 and directed the ED to probe the allegations in opposition to the Minister. From Could 26 to June 2, Earnings Tax authorities raided over 40 locations which they claimed have been linked to Senthil Balaji. The ED motion started on June 13.
Earlier, the ED had raided the State Secretariat, which is positioned within the historic Fort. St. George, in what it claimed was an try to find leads in a money-laundering case involving the Minister. A five-member workforce searched the Minister’s workplace. Searches have been additionally carried out in his official residence, and different locations which the ED thought had hyperlinks to the Minister, positioned in Karur and Coimbatore. The Erode residence of a TASMAC truck contractor was additionally searched. Earlier, on Could 27, the Earnings Tax division had raided 40 locations on the suspicion that they have been linked to Senthil Balaji.
Hospital drama and a coronary heart situation
On June 13 morning, ED officers arrived on the Minister’s residence when he was out on this routine stroll. On his return the questioning went on all day and properly into the evening till he was taken to the hospital, the place he evaluated by a panel of medical doctors. He underwent a coronary angiogram at 10.40 am on June 14.
A press launch from the hospital mentioned: “Coronary angiogram revealed triple vessel illness, for which CABG [coronary artery bypass graft]—Bypass surgical procedure is suggested on the earliest.” On June 16, after the Minister was shifted to Kauvery hospital, its govt director, Aravindan Selvaraj mentioned that “he was assessed by our workforce of professional medical doctors led by Dr A.R. Raghuram, senior guide cardio thoracic surgeon, who has suggested early Coronary Artery Bypass Graft surgical procedure”.
The ED, too, summoned specialists connected to the Central government-run ESI Hospital. As well as, a well known heart specialist from Apollo Hospitals in Chennai, too, examined him. Even in any case this the ED caught to its place that the Minister was feigning sickness. Early on June 21, Senthil Balaji underwent “beating coronary heart Coronary Artery Bypass surgical procedure…. 4 grafts have been positioned and coronary revascularisation was established”, a press launch from the hospital, issued at 10.45 a.m., mentioned.
Even after 4 impartial units of medical doctors had examined him, Solicitor Normal (SG) Tushar Mehta, arguing within the Supreme Courtroom for the ED on June 21, forged aspersions on the medical doctors and even the operation. Bowled over, Senior Advocate N.Ok. Kaul, showing for Senthil Balaji, wished to know if the SG was implying that the Minister had “fabricated blockages” in his coronary heart. The SG responded: “Which may be or is probably not!” He modified his stand barely within the Madras Excessive Courtroom the following day. Whereas contending that he nonetheless had “some reservations concerning the situation” he mentioned he didn’t need to “trivialise” it as a result of the Minister had undergone a surgical procedure.
The Supreme Courtroom refused to entertain the ED’s plea that its proper to custodial interrogation was denied if the Minister was shifted to a non-public hospital. Referring the matter again to the Excessive Courtroom, the Justice Surya Kant mentioned: “The one query right here is whether or not you need to be granted police remand when the individual is hospitalised…. Ought to the remand be deferred until he’s discovered medically match?”
Highlights
- Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthil Balaji’s home was raided and he himself was arrested on June 14.
- After intensive questioning by the ED, the Minister collapsed and was recognized with a coronary heart situation. An angiogram was carried out on him the following day.
- Opposition events accused the BJP of political vendetta and of utilizing authorities businesses to focus on political rivals.
Governor’s video games
Given the truth that the Minister wouldn’t be capable to carry out his duties, Chief Minister M.Ok. Stalin determined to re-allocate his portfolios, Electrical energy and Excise. The Chief Minister communicated to the Governor that the Electrical energy portfolio was being assigned to Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu, whereas Excise could be dealt with by S. Muthusamy. Senthil Balaji was retained within the Ministry as Minister with out portfolio. In a shock transfer, Governor R.N. Ravi, who has been at loggerheads with the federal government on many points, refused to simply accept the advice at first and returned it on June 15.
The identical day, Greater Training Minister Ok. Ponmudy questioned the motive behind Raj Bhavan leaking a Could 31 letter from the Governor to the Chief Minister, whereby the Governor wished Senthil Balaji dropped from the Cupboard. Ponmudy accused the Governor of hiding the truth that the Chief Minister had responded on June 1 to the Governor’s letter, and identified the powers that have been vested with the Chief Minister and with the Governor.
On June 16, Raj Bhavan did a somersault. A press launch acknowledged that the allocation advisable by the Chief Minister had been accepted. However the Governor added yet one more sentence: “The Hon’ble Governor has not agreed Thiru V. Senthil Balaji persevering with any longer as a Member of the Council of Ministers, as he’s going through legal proceedings for ethical turpitude and is at present in judicial custody.” The Chief Minister wrote again, informing the Governor that he had no such energy beneath the Structure.
Why was Senthil Balaji focused?
Why was Balaji focused, that too in a case courting again a decade and the place the proof hinges on statements of the affected individuals? It was largely attributed to the truth that Balaji works within the western area of the State the place the DMK is weak.
Additionally it is the one place the place the Bharatiya Janata Celebration (BJP) can declare the energy to problem the Dravidian political events in at the very least a few seats. In a brief span of time within the DMK Balaji has risen to change into one in every of its most vital leaders. A former district secretary of the AIADMK from the western Kongu area, he’s important to the DMK’s success within the western belt, the place the AIADMK is powerful.
The case in opposition to him is from a interval when Jayalalithaa was Chief Minister and Balaji was the Transport Minister within the AIADMK authorities. In a number of fora, Stalin himself has talked about Balaji’s “corruption” and had demanded motion in opposition to him. That is usually identified by BJP leaders they usually ask why Stalin is shielding a corrupt politician.
Officers of the Enforcement Directorate conduct a search at Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthil Balaji’s workplace on the State Secretariat in Chennai on June 13.
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B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
Political reactions
Stalin, whereas making it some extent to go to Balaji in hospital, made it clear that this was a case of vendetta in opposition to the DMK, Stalin described the state of affairs in Tamil Nadu as an “undeclared emergency” and launched a video assertion warning the BJP. He warned the BJP to desist from frightening the DMK. “This isn’t a menace, however a warning,” he added.
The primary political fallout of the episode was the Tamil Nadu authorities withdrawing common consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation. Which means the CBI now wants prior consent from the State authorities earlier than it probes circumstances within the State. In south India, Telangana and Kerala have already withdrawn consent as a result of each governments alleged that the BJP authorities was misusing the company to focus on political rivals.
“M.Ok. Stalin described the state of affairs in Tamil Nadu as an “undeclared emergency” and launched a video assertion warning the BJP.”
The Congress was vociferous in supporting the DMK Minister. In a press release on June 13, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, condemning the “misuse of ED,” asserted that “these are brazen makes an attempt of the Modi authorities at harassment and intimidation. Such gross misuse of investigative businesses in opposition to political opponents has been the hallmark of the Modi authorities.” The Aam Aadmi Celebration, the All India Trinamool Congress, the Nationalist Congress Celebration, and the Communist Celebration of India (Marxist) have been among the many leaders who condemned the arrest.
Karnataka Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao remarked: “Misuse of the ED to focus on opposition leaders continues by the Central authorities. Until date not a single corrupt BJP chief has been beneath ED investigation. Why is that?” The NCP’s working president Supriya Sule mentioned: “I’m not stunned in any respect. The info speaks for itself…95 per cent of the ED and CBI circumstances are from the opposition.”
Additionally Learn | Tamil Nadu authorities faces coverage missteps amid controversial Payments
BJP feud forgotten
The arrest and the following deal with Senthil Balaji turned the main focus away from the spat between the state BJP and the AIADMK. The AIADMK had demanded an apology from BJP State president Ok. Annamalai for having spoken about AIADMK’s former common secretary Jayalalithaa in a derogatory method. In impact, the BJP and the AIADMK got here collectively within the Senthil Balaji arrest and have been asking questions of the DMK authorities.
The courtroom battle over his arrest is essential for Senthil Balaji. If he loses he’s headed the best way of Aam Aadmi Celebration’sManish Sisodia. Senior politicians level out that there’s one other manner: the one adopted by Narayan Rane, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Mukul Roy, and Suvendhu Adhikari.
