In a significant development, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has accepted the resignation of V Senthil Balaji from his ministerial position. Balaji had been serving as a minister without portfolio since his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case last June. The resignation was recommended by Chief Minister M K Stalin on February 12 and subsequently approved by the Governor, as announced by the Raj Bhavan in a statement on Tuesday.
Balaji’s resignation comes at a crucial juncture, just a day before his appeal for bail is to be heard by a bench of Justice Anand Venkatesh on February 14. The trial court had previously denied his bail application, prolonging his time behind bars.
During a previous hearing on January 20, Justice Venkatesh criticized Balaji for remaining in the council of ministers despite being in custody for 240 days. Balaji’s prolonged detention raised questions about his suitability for holding a ministerial position, prompting his eventual resignation.
Senthil Balaji, who switched allegiance from the AIADMK to the DMK in 2018, was arrested by the ED on June 14 last year under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The case dates back to 2014 when Balaji served as the transport minister under the AIADMK government.
Governor Ravi had initially issued an order dismissing Balaji from the cabinet following his arrest, but this order was put on hold after legal experts argued that the Governor lacked the authority to take such action. Despite the legal challenges, Chief Minister Stalin stood by Balaji and allowed him to remain in his ministerial team. However, Stalin later reassigned Balaji’s portfolios, citing his ill health, which signaled a significant shift in Balaji’s role within the government.
The acceptance of Balaji’s resignation marks the end of his tenure in the Tamil Nadu Council of Ministers, bringing to a close a chapter marred by legal battles and political controversies. As the legal proceedings continue, the implications of Balaji’s resignation and its impact on Tamil Nadu’s political landscape remain to be seen.
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