The Enforcement Directorate has arrested Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister and DMK leader V. Senthilbalaji in a money-laundering case.
The arrest followed an 18-hour questioning at the Minister’s home in Chennai.
ED had held searches at Minister’s official chamber in the State Secretariat and bungalow in Chennai and other places linked to him in Karur and Coimbatore.
DMK Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate N.R. Elango said the ED officials did not inform the family members of Mr. Senthilbalaji or anyone on whether he was arrested or not, The Hindu reported. The Central agency did not release any statement till the time of filing this report.
Ministers Udhayanidhi Stalin, M. Subramanian and E.V. Velu visited Senthilbalaji at the Government Multi Super Specialty Hospital at Omandurar Estate in Chennai where he was taken for medical checkup.
Udhayanidhi said his party would consider a legal recourse and not “bow down to BJP’s threat and pressure”.
Minister Sekar Babu claimed that Senthilbalaji is unconscious and under observation at ICU.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge condemning the late-night arrest said in a statement, “This is nothing but political harassment and vendetta by the Modi Govt against those opposed to it. None of us in the Opposition will be intimidated by such brazen moves.”
