Tamil Nadu governor stays order to sack minister V Senthil Balaji

V Senthil Balaji News: Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has postponed the dismissal order of Minister V Senthil Balaji till further notice. In a letter sent late night to Chief Minister MK Stalin, the governor said he would consult the attorney general regarding the move and seek legal advice from him.

According to the news agency PTI, the source gave this information on Thursday (June 29). A few hours earlier, the Governor had sacked Minister V. Senthil Balaji from the Council of Ministers after he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a cash-for-job scam.

Raj Bhavan said in an official release that Senthil Balaji is facing serious criminal action in several cases of corruption including taking cash in lieu of job and money laundering.

“By misusing his position as a minister, he has been obstructing the investigation and obstructing the due process of law and justice,” he said. He is currently in judicial custody in a criminal case, which is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

CM Stalin protested

After this order of the governor, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin had said that the government would challenge it legally. Chief Minister Stalin said that Governor Ravi has no right to dismiss any minister from the cabinet. He said that the government will challenge the issue legally.

ED had arrested

Following Balaji’s arrest on 14 June, the government retained him in the cabinet, although he did not hold any portfolio and his portfolios were handed over to Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu (Electricity) and Housing Minister Muthusamy (Excise). Balaji is currently in judicial custody in a criminal case, which is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

(also input from PTI)

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