NEW DELHI/CHENNAI, JUNE 21
The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the shifting of arrested Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji to a private hospital. Balaji, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate, was undergoing treatment at a government hospital in Chennai.
The Enforcement Directorate, which arrested Balaji in connection with an alleged cash-for-jobs scam in the state transport department, had moved the Supreme Court against a Madras High Court order. The high court had allowed the shifting of Balaji.
- Arrested Minister undergoes bypass surgery at private hospital in Chennai
- Apex court posts the matter for hearing on July 4
A Supreme Court vacation bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice M M Sundresh noted that the petition was still pending in the high court and asked the ED to approach that court.
Terming the Madras High Court’s order illegal, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said, “This sets a bad precedent.”
Mehta further stressed that the period of hospitalisation should be excluded from the first 15 days.
However, the bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and MM Sundresh refrained from considering the plea, saying that the High Court was considering the matter.
On this, Mehta said, “The trial court says that it will not consider it since the High Court is examining. The Supreme Court also says it will not examine as the High Court is examining. This way we are left remediless.”
Refusing to interfere, Justice Suryakant said, “The High Court will have to follow the judicial principles. And in case of any error by the High Court, we will examine it.”
“The observations made by the high court was in an interim order and any oral observation made by this court shall have no bearing on the case,” the bench said while posting the matter for hearing on July 4.
Senior advocate NK Kaul, appearing for Senthil Balaji, said, “He had four cardiac blockages and he is now in the post-operative stage. These blockages are not self-created.”
Bajali, the electricity and prohibition and excise minister of Tamil Nadu, was arrested on June 14 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in an alleged cash-for-jobs scam that took place when he was the transport minister in an AIADMK government led by J Jayalalithaa.
The high court passed an interim order after Balaji’s wife filed a habeas corpus petition alleging illegal arrest.
Senthil Balaji undergoes bypass surgery at private hospital in Chennai
Arrested Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji on Wednesday underwent a bypass surgery and was hemodynamically stable, the private hospital treating him here said.
Balaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a cash-for-jobs scam last week.
The minister underwent Beating Heart Coronary Artery Bypass surgery in the morning, a medical bulletin issued by Kauvery Hospital said.
“Four bypass grafts were placed and coronary revascularization was established,” the bulletin from Dr Aravindan Selvaraj, co-founder and executive director, Kauvery Group of Hospitals, said.
“He is currently hemodynamically stable and being monitored in the postoperative intensive care unit by the multidisciplinary team of doctors and nurses,” it said.
