Mr Balaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in June final yr.
Chennai:
A particular courtroom in Chennai framed costs towards former Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji beneath the Prevention of Cash Laundering Act on Thursday in reference to an alleged cash-for-jobs rip-off. In line with the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the alleged rip-off passed off between 2011 and 2015, when Mr Balaji was the Tamil Nadu transport minister beneath the AIADMK authorities led by the late J Jayalalithaa.
Through the proceedings on Thursday, Senthil Balaji pleaded not responsible, alleged political vendetta and stated he needed to cross-examine witnesses. The courtroom, nonetheless, adjourned the case to August 16 for the cross-examination.
Mr Balaji was arrested by the ED in reference to the alleged rip-off in June 2023 when he was the electrical energy minister beneath Chief Minister MK Stalin of the DMK. He was taken into custody after being questioned for hours and was hospitalised after complaining of chest ache.
The minister was retained by the Tamil Nadu authorities as a present of assist however resigned in February this yr after the Madras Excessive Court docket stated political compulsion couldn’t outweigh public morality.
The DMK has accused the BJP of misusing central businesses, together with the ED, to focus on political opponents. The BJP has denied the allegations and claimed that the ED is following the rule guide.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court docket noticed that the ED must give attention to the standard of prosecution and proof, citing low conviction charges in instances beneath the Prevention of Cash Laundering Act. The statement got here after Minister of State for Dwelling Nityanand Rai instructed the Lok Sabha that greater than 5,200 cash laundering instances had been registered by the ED since 2014 and convictions had been obtained in 40.
