Take speedy call on plea for Balaji's release: SC to HC after split verdict

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday requested the Madras high court chief justice to pave the way for the speedy disposal of a case surrounding the legality of arrest and custodial interrogation of state minister V Senthil Balaji of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in connection with a money laundering case, hours after a two-judge bench in the high court delivered a split verdict in the matter

- Utkarsh Anand

A bench, headed by justice Surya Kant, took note of the fact that after the split verdict by the high court division bench, the habeas corpus petition filed by Balaji's wife challenging her husband's arrest will have to go to a third judge for a decision by majority. Thus, the bench that also comprised justice Dipankar Datta, requested the chief justice of the high court to place the matter before the third judge "at the earliest". "We further request the assigned bench to decide the legal issues as mentioned as early as possible. It goes without saying that pendency of these petitions before this Court will have no bearing on the case before the high court," the bench said in its order. Balaji, who held the electricity, excise and prohibition portfolios, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on June 14 for allegations that date back to 2014 when he was transport minister in the then AIADMK government. He joined the DMK in 2018.

On the day of his arrest, Balaji dramatically collapsed, and later underwent a beating heart coronary artery bypass surgery in a Chennai hospital on June 21 and has been hospitalised since. On Wednesday, his judicial custody was extended by a trial court until July 12.