The Enforcement Directorate conducted raids at the residences of Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji in Karur and Chennai. The raids are being conducted in connection to a money-laundering case revolving around an alleged job scam when he was a minister in erstwhile AIADMK government.
The minister, a DMK strongman from Karur district, said he was not aware of what the officials had come searching for at his premises and assured to extend total cooperation in the probe.
The Supreme Court had last month allowed a police and ED probe into an alleged cash-for-jobs scam against Balaji, who also holds the Prohibition and Excise portfolio. The searches are being undertaken under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
A month back, on May 26, the Income Tax Department had searched residences of people linked to Balaji. In the last operation, The Income Tax (IT) department had carried out raids at over 40 locations across Tamil Nadu, including various government contractors’ residences and offices, who have alleged connections with state electricity minister Senthil Balaji.
Senthil Balaji is a close confidant of DMK Chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.
Quoting sources, an ANI report said the IT department also raided Senthil’s brother’s residence in Karur. Raids were carried out at Chennai, Karur and other places, sources said.
Meanwhile, the DMK minister had denied reports of IT raids at his residence, adding that he has appealed to all his associates to cooperate with the central agency.
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