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Senthil Balaji, who took charge as the Tamil Nadu Minister for electricity, non-conventional energy development, prohibition and excise, arrived at the Enforcement Directorate's office in Nungambakkam here on Friday as per the condition of bail given to him.
Balaji was released from the Puzhal Central Prison in Chennai on September 26 after SC granted him bail in a money laundering case linked to the cash-for-jobs scam. On his release Balaji claimed that the case initiated against him was a "fake case," adding that he will always be obliged to DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. "The case which was initiated against me was a fake case and was just a political vendetta. I will overcome and win this fake case legally by facing court. I am obliged to DMK President and TN CM MK Stalin," he said. Balaji arrived at the ED office on Friday in his personal car and not in the minister's car. The minister was arrested on June 14 in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged cash-for-jobs scam when he was the TN Transport Minister during the earlier AIADMK regime. The Enforcement Case Information Register (ECIR) was registered on the basis of three FIRs lodged against him by the local police in 2018 for his alleged involvement in the case when he was the Transport Minister in Jayalalithaa's Cabinet in 2015. The charges date back to his tenure as transport minister during the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government from 2011 to 2015. He joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in December 2018 and assumed office as the electricity minister after the party came to power in May 2021 On September 29, DMK leader Senthil Balaji had sworn in as the minister in Chief Minister MK Stalin's led government along with three other MLAs, as a part of the party's major reshuffle. As per an official release, Senthil Balaji will handle the work in Electricity and Non-Conventional Energy Development, Prohibition & Excise. (ANI)
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