The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated the trial in the money laundering case against former minister Senthil Balaji. This case was registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Senthil Balaji was arrested by the ED in June of last year, and his petition seeking release from custody was dismissed by the Chennai District Principal Sessions Court.

Following this, Judge S. Alli had ordered Senthil Balaji to appear in court for the framing of charges. Accordingly, Senthil Balaji appeared in court on the 8th of this month, where charges were formally framed against him, and summons were issued to witnesses.

When the case came up for hearing yesterday before Judge S. Alli, Harish Kumar, the then-manager of Karur City Union Bank branch, appeared as the first witness. Special Public Prosecutor N. Ramesh, representing the ED, conducted the examination of Harish Kumar. He provided details related to the bank accounts of Senthil Balaji, his wife Meghala, and his brother Ashokkumar.

Some of the details were objected to by Senthil Balaji’s defense lawyer, M. Kouthaman. Following this, Judge S. Alli postponed the cross-examination to the 22nd of this month and extended Senthil Balaji’s judicial custody for the 55th time until then.