Source: Express News Service
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Energy Minister V. The Madras High Court on Wednesday allowed Senthil Balaji to be shifted to Cauvery Hospital under judicial custody for heart surgery.
A division bench of Justices J Nisha Banu and D Bharata Chakraborty passed the order on a habeas corpus petition filed by Senthil Balaji’s wife Meghla based on the medical report provided by the medical team of Omandurar Multi Specialty Government Hospital and ESI Hospital. Doctors said Senthil needed immediate medical attention.
The bench observed that the minister was already consulting with the doctors of the private hospital.
A team from the ESI Hospital had a different opinion after examining him on Wednesday, and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said a fair report on his health condition would be obtained from an independent team of AIIMS doctors in Delhi.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) ARL Sundaresan, who appeared for E.D., said Senthil Balaji was in a good condition when a general check-up was conducted before his arrest. He later complained of chest pain, which led to further testing.
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Minister V Senthil Balaji, a minister in the DMK government led by CM Stalin in Tamil Nadu, was arrested by Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials on June 14 in connection with a money laundering case related to the cash-for-jobs scam during Jayalalithaa’s tenure as a minister in the cabinet.
Instead of shifting them to a private hospital, the doctors of the hospital can visit Omandurr Multi Specialty Government Hospital and allow them to be treated, he insisted.
Responding to questions from the bench, Sundaresan said the Chennai city police had registered FIRs in connection with the cash-for-job scam during Jayalalithaa’s tenure as a minister in the cabinet. Then in 2021, he said that an ED case was registered.
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Senior advocate NR Ilango, appearing for Senthil Balaji, said the minister needed heart bypass surgery. Three blocks were found in his heart. Thus, he prayed the court to allow him to be shifted to Kaveri Hospital for undergoing surgery under judicial custody.
Elango referred to a recent Supreme Court ruling allowing a person detained by ED to seek treatment at a hospital of his choice at his own expense.
