ED granted 8 days custody of TN minister Balaji; court says he can't be taken out of hospital
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Chennai: A local court here on Friday granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) 8 days of custody of Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji, who was detained by the agency on June 14 in accordance with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). A Saravanan, the lawyer for Balaji, stated that the court has made it clear to the ED that Balaji cannot be transferred outside of the hospital where he is now receiving treatment for a heart condition.
Balaji appeared before the court through video conferencing.
Saravanan told reporters the court granted 8 days of custody of Balaji to ED and told the agency that he shall not be shifted out of the Kauvery Hospital where he is undergoing treatment now.
The court was informed Balaji was set to undergo bypass surgery in "3-5 days," and certain drugs he has been prescribed have been stopped to facilitate the procedure.
The next course of action will be taken based on consultations with senior advocates, he added.
Balaji was arrested by the ED on Wednesday in connection with a cash-for-jobs scam dating back to the earlier Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK regime where he was transport minister.
With PTI inputs