Tamil Nadu: Charges To Be Framed Against V Senthil Balaji On 22 January In Money Laundering Case

In a recent development, the Principal Sessions Judge, S Alli, has announced that charges will be framed against Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji on 22 January in connection with a money laundering case.

In the order, the judge said, "accused produced through video conference. Heard the special PP under section 226 CrPC. Charge framing by 22 January 2024. Petition filed under section 91 (2) CrPC. Check and call by then. Remand extended till then. Accused to be produced in person".

Balaji, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) last year, is accused in a money laundering case linked to a cash-for-jobs scam during his tenure as the Transport Minister in an earlier All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) regime.

The prosecution, led by Special Public Prosecutor N Ramesh, informed the court that they plan to prove the charges against Balaji by examining 21 witnesses and presenting 77 documents, "we are proposing to prove the charges against Senthil Balaji," he added.

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Balaji was arrested on 14 June 2023 by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case linked to a cash-for-jobs scam when he was the transport minister during an earlier AIADMK regime.

Following his arrest, the ED took him into custody for interrogation, and subsequently, he was remanded in judicial custody. The court periodically extended his remand.

In August, the central agency filed a substantial 3000-page chargesheet. Despite numerous bail petitions, both the Madras High Court and the Principal Sessions Judge consistently denied bail to Balaji.

The court is set to announce its decision on his third bail petition on Friday (12 January), marking another development in the ongoing legal proceedings.

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