On July 17,the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister Ponmudi’s residences, the officals said.
According to the local police, the ED carried out searches at Ponmudi’s homes in Chennai and Viluppuram.
Earlier, on June 28, the Principal Sessions Court, Chennai, extended the judicial custody of DMK Minister V Senthil Balaji till July 12. Balaji was produced before the court through video conferencing.
The case concerns the ‘Tamil Nadu Cash-for-Jobs Scam,’ wherein it was alleged that the DMK Minister and certain government officials accepted bribes in exchange for appointments to the state transport corporation between 2011 and 2015.
On June 14, the court remanded the accused Minister into judicial custody for two weeks, which ended on June 28. On June 16, the court refused bail to Balaji and noted that the accused was not cooperating with the investigation, as he refused to receive and sign the grounds of arrest.
The court said, “The provisions of PMLA have given an overriding effect upon any other law and further explicitly mentions that any provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, which deal with attachment, confiscation, investigation and prosecution shall not apply,” in its June 16 order.
On June 12, in connection with a money laundering investigation, the ED conducted raids at places linked to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (DMK) politician V Senthil Balaji and a few other people. He is currently Tamil Nadu’s Electricity Minister and also holds the Prohibition and Excise portfolio. Last month, Income Tax officials searched the premises related to the DMK’s Minister.
According to official sources, the raids were conducted at places linked to the DMK minister and his brother Ashok. Balaji is the local strongman of the Karur district. The searches were conducted in his hometown Karur and the state capital Chennai. He stated when the officials came for the search, he was unaware of what they were looking for, but he pledged to offer full cooperation in the investigation.
Last month, the Supreme Court gave permission to police and ED to investigate Balaji, who is allegedly involved in the cash-for-jobs scam. According to the sources, the searches are being conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Hours, after Minister V Senthil Balaji was taken into custody by the ED, Tamil Nadu minister Ponmudi, termed it a “revengeful act” and claimed that the Centre was doing wrong against states where there is a non-BJP Government.
While responding to the questions related to the ED raids, Balaji stated that he is “ready to extend full cooperation” to the investigating agency. He stated when he was out for a morning walk, he learned about the raid at his premises and took a taxi back home,
Balaji told reporters not long after the officials began their searches, “With what intention they have come, what are they looking for, we will see. Let it get over”.Balaji promised full cooperation to the relevant authorities, whether it be the IT or ED. He added that officials will give whatever explanation is required based on documentation. Whether it be the IT or ED, Balaji promised complete cooperation for the relevant authorities, adding that any explanations needed by officials based on documents would be given.
On May 16, the Supreme Court of India set aside the Madras High Court’s order directing a fresh investigation into the Tamil Nadu Cash-for-Jobs Scam, where it was alleged that V Senthil Balaji and certain government officials accepted bribes in exchange for appointments to state transport corporation between 2011 and 2015.
The Supreme Court said that the Investigating Officer probing the case could continue their investigation and that a request for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) can be considered at a later stage. The court said, “The directions issued for the de-novo investigation are set aside. The investigating officers are to proceed with further investigation in all cases, by including the offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.”
The Madras High Court had directed a fresh investigation, stating that the ED’s investigation failed to secure crucial forensic evidence. Furthermore, the Madras High Court said that the ED’s investigation suffered due to multiple petitions and applications filed against it in several courts by Senthil Balaji and other connected parties.
The Tamil Nadu Government conducted recruitment for various posts in state transport corporations between 2011 and 2015. It was alleged that then-Transport Minister Senthil Balaji took bribes for the appointments.
The ED registered four cases concerning the alleged scam, wherein two cases pertained to irregularities in the appointment of bus conductors and the other two concerned irregularities in the appointment of drivers and junior engineers. Senthil Balaji moved the Madras High Court seeking discharge from the cases and contended that he was a victim of ‘political malice’ as he defected from AIADMK to the DMK, however, the court rejected the contention.
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