In A Rare Move, Tamil Nadu Governor Dismisses Jailed Minister V Senthil Balaji From State Cabinet

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, in a rare move, on Thursday dismissed DMK leader jailed minister V Senthil Balaji from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect. Balaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on June 14 in a cash-for-jobs scam case.

"Minister V Senthil Balaji is facing serious criminal proceedings in a number of cases of corruption including taking cash for jobs and money laundering...Under these circumstances, Governor has dismissed him from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect", stated a release issued by the Raj Bhavan in Tamil Nadu.

"Abusing his position as a Minister..."

The release further stated, "Abusing his position as a Minister, he (Senthil Balaji) has been influencing the investigation and obstructing the due process of law and justice. He is in judicial custody in a criminal case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate. Some more criminal cases against him under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal codes are being investigated by the State Police."

The Minister for Electricity, Prohibition, and Excise in the MK Stalin government, Balaji, was arrested on June 14 and admitted to a government hospital in Chennai after he complained of chest pains.

He was allowed by the Madras High Court on June 15 to be shifted to a private hospital of his choice.

The Supreme Court, earlier this month, refused to interfere with the Madras High Court order allowing Balaji to be moved to a private hospital in Chennai and admitted a habeas corpus petition filed against his arrest. (With inputs from ANI)