Supreme Court dismisses plea of Senthil Balaji against HC order allowing ED custody [7.8.2023]

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the pleas of Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji and his wife challenging the Madras High Court's judgment which held his arrest legal by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the money laundering case.

A bench of Justices AS Bopanna and MM Sundresh while dismissing the plea of Balaji allowed his custodial interrogation by the Enforcement Directorate in cash for a job scam.

Last week, the bench reserved its order on a plea filed by Balaji and his wife challenging the Madras High Court's judgment.

The Madras High Court, on July 14 held legal the ED's arrest of Balaji and subsequent judicial custody granted by a lower court on money laundering charges linked to the cash-for-jobs scam. The High Court order came on the habeas corpus petition filed by Megala, wife of Senthil Balaji.

The High Court found the habeas corpus plea not maintainable in law.

It further clarified that time spent by Balaji under medical treatment in a private hospital would be excluded from the period of custody allowed to the ED.


07 Aug 2023