The Madras High Court ruling permitting Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji, who was detained in a money laundering case, to be transferred to a private hospital for bypass surgery, has been challenged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a Supreme Court of India appeal.
Before a bench of Justices Surya Kant and MM Sundresh, the issue was brought up by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for an urgent listing. The issue will be scheduled for hearing on Wednesday, the bench ordered.
The ED detained Balaji, a minister in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led government of Tamil Nadu, in connection with a cash-for-jobs case. The accusations against him stem from his time from 2011 to 2015 as the transport minister of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) administration.
Balaji complained of chest trouble shortly after his arrest and was sent to a government hospital where he had a coronary angiography. The City Civil and Sessions Court in Chennai visited Balaji in the hospital and evaluated his health before ordering him to remain in judicial detention till June 28.
However, the Sessions court approved Balaji’s request to continue his medical care in the public hospital. In the meantime, S Megala, his wife, filed a habeas corpus plea with the Madras High Court challenging his arrest.
On June 15, the High Court gave permission for Balaji to be transferred to the city’s private Kauvery Hospital for an urgent bypass procedure. After that, on June 16, Principal Judge S Alli of the City Civil and Sessions Court in Chennai granted the ED’s request for the minister to be interrogated while under their care, but stipulated that the hospital should be the location of the interview.
Written By- Smrutiman Anantveer Mohanty, College Name- Army Law College, Pune, Semester- Smrutiman Anantveer Mohanty, an intern under Legal Vidhiya
