Balaji chargesheeted, judicial custody extended

One-liner: The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday filed a nearly 3,000-page charge sheet against Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji as part of a continuing money laundering investigation against him and his aides, official sources said.

Remanded: Principal Sessions Judge S Alli, before whom the 47-year-old DMK politician was produced, remanded him in judicial custody till Aug 25. 

• The minister, who was arrested by the ED on June 14, will continue to be lodged at the Puzhal central jail in Chennai

Prosecution complaint filed: The central agency filed the prosecution complaint of about 3,000 pages that included more than 2,000 pages of annexures and 168-170 pages of operational documents, arraigning Balaji as an accused, the sources said.

Documents brought on record: The ED is understood to have brought on record various documents seized, purported cash receipts recovered and the statement of Balaji that was recorded by it over the last few days in the charge sheet.

PMLA: The court is yet to take cognisance of the complaint (charge sheet) filed under various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Interrogation: Judge Alli had on Aug 7 permitted the ED to take custody of Senthil Balaji for five days for the purpose of interrogation in connection with the case. Since the custody came to an end on Saturday, the ED produced him before the judge.

• The judge asked Balaji how he was treated by the ED while in custody and if there was any complaint against the agency

Treated well by ED: He replied he was treated well by the ED and had no complaints, the sources said.

Supplementary charge sheet: The agency is expected to file a supplementary charge sheet later as a number of other people, including members of Balaji's family, have not deposed before it till now.