ED raids Tamil Nadu electricity minister's home, rapid action force deployed

Chennai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted a multi-city search against Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji in a money laundering investigation. His office at the Secretariat in Chennai and home in Karur were searched.

He is being investigated in an alleged cash-for-jobs scam and the Supreme Court had earlier allowed police and ED to investigate him. The ED, accompanied by central paramilitary personnel, conducted the searches under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Last month, Income Tax officials were allegedly attacked in Karur when they went to conduct searches at some places linked to Balaji.

He was not aware that officials had come to search his premises. The DMK leader assured to extend total cooperation in the probe. He said he was "ready to extend full cooperation" to the investigating agency. "With what intention have they come, what are they looking for, we will see. Let it get over," he told the media. He added whatever explanation sought by officials based on documents, will be provided.

He said he was out on a morning walk and took a taxi back home after receiving the message about the raids.

The minister is a key leader in DMK from Karur district. He was earlier with the AIADMK and was Transport minister in the late Jayalalithaa-led cabinet.

ED officials also searched the house of a Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) lorry contractor in Erode district. State-run TASMAC is the retailer of liquor in Tamil Nadu. Balaji also holds the Prohibition and Excise portfolio. Last month, the Income Tax department also searched people close to Balaji in the state.