CHENNAI: The Madras high court on Monday reserved its order on the bail application moved by Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji.
The minister was arrested on June 14 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for alleged offence of money laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Concluding the final hearing, Justice G Jayachandran reserved his orders.
According to the minister, immediately after being arrested, he suffered chest pain and was admitted to Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital. Later, he was transferred to Kauvery Hospital where he underwent bypass surgery.
On July 17, he was transferred to the prison hospital in Puzhal Central Prison.
In his bail application, the minister submitted that he had been in prison for more than 100 days and had cooperated with the ED during his custodial interrogation. Now that the ED has filed its final report he can be enlarged on bail, his counsel said.
“So far, there has been no complaint of him, or his family members having made any attempt to influence any of the witnesses,” his counsel said.
He further added that he could avail better treatment in a hospital of his choice if he is released on bail though at present he has been provided treatment in the prison hospital.
Opposing the plea, the ED submitted that the minister has no medical issues that could qualify as ‘non normal’. Being an extremely powerful personality, he could influence or threaten the witnesses if released on bail, the ED said.
The agency further denied the claim of the minister that he fully cooperated with the inquiry during custodial interrogation, it added.
The minister was arrested on June 14 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for alleged offence of money laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Concluding the final hearing, Justice G Jayachandran reserved his orders.
According to the minister, immediately after being arrested, he suffered chest pain and was admitted to Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital. Later, he was transferred to Kauvery Hospital where he underwent bypass surgery.
On July 17, he was transferred to the prison hospital in Puzhal Central Prison.
In his bail application, the minister submitted that he had been in prison for more than 100 days and had cooperated with the ED during his custodial interrogation. Now that the ED has filed its final report he can be enlarged on bail, his counsel said.
“So far, there has been no complaint of him, or his family members having made any attempt to influence any of the witnesses,” his counsel said.
He further added that he could avail better treatment in a hospital of his choice if he is released on bail though at present he has been provided treatment in the prison hospital.
Opposing the plea, the ED submitted that the minister has no medical issues that could qualify as ‘non normal’. Being an extremely powerful personality, he could influence or threaten the witnesses if released on bail, the ED said.
The agency further denied the claim of the minister that he fully cooperated with the inquiry during custodial interrogation, it added.
