Tamil Nadu’s 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 to an alleged money laundering case on Wednesday. The ED had raided his premises on Tuesday and took Balaji in for questioning. The DMK leader was soon taken to Omandurar government hospital in Chennai for medical examination under tight security. Outside the hospital, Balaji’s supporters gathered to protest against the ED action. The DMK leaders alleged that Balaji complained of chest pain while being taken into custody by the ED officials and did not seem to be conscious when he was taken to the hospital.
DMK MP and lawyer NR Elango said that Balaji has been shifted to ICU, and doctors are evaluating his condition. Balaji’s arrest has not been officially confirmed by the ED. DMK minister Udhayanidhi Stalin urged legal action against the ED and said that his party is not afraid of the BJP-led central government’s threatening politics. Various DMK supporters arrived at the hospital to meet Balaji, including Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Udhyanithi Stalin, Health Minister M Subramaniyan, Public Works and Highways Minister EV Velu, and HR and CE Minister Sekar Babu.
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.
