Enforcement Directorate launches searches at residence of T.N. Electricity Minister V. Senthilbalaji in Karur
The Hindu
Officials of the Enforcement Directorate launched searches at the residences of Tamil Nadu Minister for Electricity, Excise and Prohibition, V. Senthilbalaji and his acquaintances, in Karur on Tuesday. Searches were also carried out at the Minister’s residence in Chennai.
Officials of the Enforcement Directorate launched searches at the residences of Tamil Nadu Minister for Electricity, Excise and Prohibition, V. Senthilbalaji and his acquaintances, in Karur on Tuesday.
These searches come just a couple of weeks after Income Tax officials carried out searches at premises of persons linked to Mr. Senthilbalaji.
The Minister’s residence at Rameswarapatti on the outskirts of Karur, his brother V. Ashok Kumar's residence at Ramakrishnapuram and the residence of Mani alias Subramani, managing partner of Kongu Mess at Rayanur are among the five places where officials have been carrying out searches.
The ED officials, who assembled in Karur early on Tuesday morning, arrived at the search locations with Central Reserve Police Force personnel providing security. No one at the residences were allowed to go out. CRPF personnel were posted in large numbers in front of all five places, where the searches are under way, as a precautionary step.
During the Income Tax Department searches on May 26, a large number of DMK cadres and supporters of Mr. Senthilbalaji had raised slogans against the Union government and also gheraoed a woman I-T official.
The Supreme Court on May 16, had paved the way for a Crime Branch investigation to continue against Mr. Senthilbalaji, who is accused of taking bribes in exchange for jobs in the Metro Transport Corporation.
“We are judges and therefore, cannot act like Mughals of a bygone era ... the writ courts in the guise of doing justice cannot transcend the barriers of law,” the High Court of Karnataka observed while setting aside an order of a single judge, who in 2016 had extended the lease of a public premises allotted to a physically challenged person to 20 years contrary to 12-year period stipulated in the law.
The High Court of Karnataka on Monday declined to interfere, at present, in the investigation against a Bharatiya Janata Party worker, who is among the accused persons facing charges of circulating obscene clips, related to “morphed” images and videos clips related to Prajwal Revanna, former Hassan MP, in public domain through pen drives and other modes.
The 16th edition of Bhoomi Habba was held on June 8, at the Visthar campus. The festival drew a vibrant crowd who came together to celebrate eco-consciousness through a variety of engaging activities, creative workshops, panel discussions, interactive exhibits and performances, all centered around this year’s theme: “Save Water, Save Lives.”