The Enforcement Directorate has registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against V. Senthil Balaji, Minister for Electricity, Prohibition and Excise. The offence of money laundering is derived from three other criminal cases registered against Mr. Balaji by the Central Crime Branch of Chennai Police on charges of cheating etc., during his tenure as the State Transport Minister in the AIADMK regime. Of the three cases booked against Mr. Balaji by the Chennai Police, one was quashed by the Madras High Court. Though money laundering cases are based on First Information Reports of other law-enforcing agencies, the outcome of such cases need not have a bearing on the investigation into the offence under PMLA Act, the sources said. The CCB of the Chennai Police chargesheeted Mr. Balaji and several others, including the then Transport Department officials, in three different cases.

Source: The Hindu August 09, 2021 11:21 UTC