The Enforcement Directorate conducted fresh searches at premises related to Tamil Nadu Excise Minister V. Senthil Balaji’s close associates over alleged irregularities in the state government liquor vending agency, Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC).
Searches were reportedly conducted in multiple premises in Karur, Balaji’s hometown, Namakkal and at the TASMAC headquarters in Chennai. Searches are being conducted at 10 premises related to Balaji and a few government contractors, PTI reported.
The searches are related to alleged financial irregularities in TASMAC. Close to 20 personnel began the searches at 5am in premises in Karur, a Tamil daily reported.
The fresh probe in connection with the minister comes as Balaji is already facing another ED investigation in a money laundering case. The minister is accused of taking bribe promising jobs in the state transport corporation while he was transport minister in the erstwhile Jayalalithaa regime.
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The central agency registered a money laundering case against him and conducted raids at Balaji’s premises in connection with cash-for-job case. Balaji was arrested on June 14, 2023, over the charges. Though he was retained as minister without portfolio in the Tamil Nadu cabinet, Balaji had to eventually resign in February last year.
Balaji was reinstated as minister within days after he was granted bail by the Supreme Court in the case. The apex court granted bail to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader considering the delay in commencing trial in the case. However, the Supreme Court recently expressed shock over his reinstatement as minister. The ED recently challenged bail granted to the minister in the case and charged he was trying to influence witnesses in the case.