The
Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on pleas of Tamil Nadu minister
V Senthil Balaji and his wife Megala challenging the Madras High Court order
upholding his arrest in a money laundering case.
The
arguments heard. Judgement reserved, a bench comprising justices A S Bopanna
and M M Sundresh said after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the
Enforcement Directorate (ED), and senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing
the minister, concluded their submissions.
Presenting
its arguments, the anti-money laundering agency said it has the requisite power
to arrest and interrogate the accused minister in its custody in order to
collect evidence and ensure corroboration.
On
the other hand, Rohatgi, assisted by lawyer Amit Anand Tiwari, said ED has no
vested right to interrogate an accused in custody under the Prevention of Money
Laundering Act (PMLA).
Balaji, who continues to be a minister without
portfolio in the Tamil Nadu government even after his arrest on June 14, and
his wife assailed a Madras High Court order upholding his arrest by the probe
agency in a money laundering case arising out of the alleged cash-for-jobs scam
in the state's transport department.