In a recent development at the Sessions Court, former Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji's judicial proceedings saw an extension, with his remand stretched until June 10th. This decision comes in light of his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) last June in connection with a money laundering case.

Appearing via video conferencing from the Central Puzhal Prison, Balaji faced Principal Sessions Judge S. Alli, who also prolonged his judicial custody until the aforementioned date.

During the hearing, Balaji submitted two crucial pleas, one of which sought the City Union Bank in Karur to furnish a list of its employees, specifically clerks, cashiers, and managers, employed between 2012 and 2022. This request was prompted by the ED's reliance on counterfoil challans from the bank, allegedly used for depositing cash by Balaji and his wife.

Another petition requested copies of PAN cards of depositors and counterfoil challans from 2016 to 2022. The judge postponed the hearing on these petitions to June 10th.

Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate submitted a counter affidavit opposing Balaji's request to defer proceedings until the City Union Bank produces original counterfoils/challans used for deposits in his and his wife's accounts.

Balaji's arrest last year on June 14th is part of a broader investigation into a money laundering case linked to a cash-for-jobs scam during his tenure as the Transport Minister in an earlier AIADMK regime.