Court dismisses Senthil Balaji’s plea against remand

Chennai (IANS) | A Principal Sessions Court in Chennai on Thursday dismissed Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji’s plea to quash his 15-day remand seeking interim bail. The judge informed the counsel for the petitioner that it was not valid as judicial custody had already been granted. The court also rejected the Enforcement Directorate’s plea seeking the minister’s custody.

The ED had requested the court to allow him for custodial interrogation as he had not cooperated properly during the earlier interrogation. Principal Sessions Judge S Alli said the ED’s plea cannot be accepted.

In a petition seeking the minister’s custody, the ED told the court that benami assets worth Rs 25 crore of Senthil Balaji had been detected. The agency said the minister had financed the property purchased in the name of a relative.

Meanwhile, the Madras High Court will consider the habeas corpus petition filed by Senthil Balaji’s wife. A division bench of Madras High Court Justices Nisha Bano and Bharat Chakraborty will consider the petition today.

–IANS