Balaji seeks all bank docus; ED to reply

CHENNAI: A sessions court in Chennai directed the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) to file a counter to the fresh petition moved by former minister V Senthibalaji seeking original challan and documents from the banks connected to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case.

Senthilbalaji moved the fresh petition before the principal sessions judge S Alli.

The counsel representing Senthilbalaji presented that the banks have submitted photocopied versions of some of the challans and sought to serve original copies of the same. Until then the final order to the discharge petition should postponed, said the counsel.

After the submission, the judge directed the ED to file a counter and posted the matter to June 4 for further submission.

Senthilbalaji was produced before the principal judge through video conference from Puzhal Central prison as his judicial custody ended Tuesday. Recording his appearance, the judge extended the judicial custody till June 4.

Senthilbalaji filed a petition seeking to discharge him from the PMLA case connected to the alleged job racket. While the order was reserved in the discharge petition, Senthilbalaji filed a fresh application to advance further arguments.

The principal sessions court allowed the application and served the bank documents, including challan, to Senthilbalaji which he sought to advance his submission.

Senthilbalaji was arrested under PMLA, by the Directorate of Enforcement on June 14 at his residence in Chennai. The investigating agency registered the PMLA case against Senthilbalaji over an alleged cash-for-jobs scam during his tenure as Transport Minister in the then AIADMK regime.