On Wednesday, the High Court of Madras extended the deadline for the Principal Sessions Judge to complete the trial in the money laundering case against former Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji by an additional four months.

Last year, Balaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate.

 While dismissing a bail petition filed by Senthil Balaji, Justice N Anand Venkatesh of the Madras High Court on February 28 stated that since the petitioner had been in custody for about eight months, the Special Court handling Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cases was directed to conduct the trial preferably on a day-to-day basis, and complete it within three months.

As the three-month period was approaching its end and the trial had yet to begin, Principal Sessions Judge S. Alli wrote to the Madras High Court requesting additional time to complete the trial.