Tortured him to the point…, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin on Senthil Balaji's ED arrest
2 min read 14 Jun 2023, 10:51 AM ISTDMK workers present outside the hospital raise slogans against Governor RN Ravi
PremiumTamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Wednesday visited state minister Senthil Balaji at the Omandurar government hospital in Chennai where the DMK minister has been admitted after he was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a case linked to money laundering.
Stepping up his attack, Stalin later pointed out that ED officials are "enacting a drama" in the name of enquiry and accused them of "physically and mentally troubling" Balaji.
"They had pressured him to the point of him suffering a chest pain," Stalin alleged in a statement, hours after the ED arrested Balaji in a money laundering probe following raids at his premises and long questioning sessions since Tuesday.
ED officials had done so till 2 am before taking Balaji to a hospital and he is in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) right now, the Chief Minister added.
Noting that such a long probe was unnecessary as Balaji had assured that he would be cooperating with the agency, he questioned "if such an inhumane action by the ED officials is warranted".
"The cruel intentions of those that had deployed the officials is evident from this," Stalin charged.
He reiterated his stringent criticism of the BJP, saying it was using such investigating agencies against its political rivals. "That is the only way they know."
"Whatever the case is, Senthil Balaji will face it legally. We will firmly continue with our political stand. The DMK will face the case legally with resolve," the Chief Minister said.
"DMK will not be cowed down by BJP's intimidation. People are watching such oppression and will give a befitting reply in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls," he added.
Raids were carried out at Balaji's Karur residence and his office at the state secretariat by the ED sleuths in connection to an alleged money laundering case on Tuesday. In addition to this, the premises of his brother and a close aide in Karur were also raided.
Following the raids, the investigating agency took the DMK leader for questioning. After Balaji complained of chest pain, the ED brought Balaji to the Omandurar government hospital in Chennai for a medical examination amid tight security in the early hours today.