Madras HC asks ED to file counter to Senthilbalaji's revision petition

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court directed the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) to file a counter to the criminal revision petition moved by former minister V Senthilbalaji challenging the principal session court's order dismissing his discharge petition.

When the petition moved by Senthilbalaji came for hearing before a division bench of Justice SM Subramaniam and Justice V Sivagnanam, ED special public prosecutor N Ramesh sought time to submit the counter. After the request, the bench posted the matter to August 21 for further submission.

The DMK leader had moved a petition before the principal sessions court, Chennai, seeking to discharge him from the PMLA case. However, the court dismissed the plea. Challenging this order, Senthilbalaji moved the criminal revision petition in the High Court.

Senthilbalaji was arrested under PMLA by the ED on June 14, 2023, from his residence in Chennai. The case was registered over an alleged cash-for-jobs scam during his tenure as transport minister in the then AIADMK regime.

Recently, the sessions court framed charges against him, during which the former minister pleaded not guilty and sought permission to cross-examine the witnesses.