Senthil Balaji’s Brother Ashok is expected to appear before the judge of the Chennai Principal Sessions Court tomorrow
Kochi, August 14 (City Times): In a significant development related to a money laundering case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken into custody RV Ashok, the brother of Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji, in Kochi. This action follows repeated summons issued by the central investigating agency, which Senthil Balaji’s Brother Ashok reportedly failed to respond to. The investigation has been centered around the assets amassed by DMK minister Senthil Balaji and his family, leading to the freezing of a property belonging to Ashok Balaji’s wife Nirmala on August 10. However, ED has not Confirmed his detention.
The move comes just after Senthil Balaji himself faced charges by the ED. A comprehensive 3000-page chargesheet has been filed by the central agency against the DMK MLA in relation to a money laundering case.
Uncertainties linger around Ashok’s whereabouts in Kochi, with no records of any reservations made under the name of Ashok Kumar for flights between Kochi and Chennai today, further raising questions. It is reported that Ashok is expected to appear before the judge of the Chennai Principal Sessions Court tomorrow. The ED’s investigations earlier revealed allegations that Balaji orchestrated a job racket within state transport undertakings during 2014–2015, exploiting his position for personal gain.
The investigation has also pointed towards a kickback scheme involving Balaji’s close associates, including his brother R V Ashok Kumar and personal assistants B Shanmugam and M Karthikeyan. This scheme allegedly led to the wrongful placement of candidates, displacing deserving applicants in various positions.
The ED’s investigation delves into the illicit acquisition of assets by DMK minister Senthil Balaji and his family. As part of the inquiry, a property owned by Ashok Balaji’s wife Nirmala was frozen on August 10. These actions have come swiftly after the ED filed a comprehensive 3000-page chargesheet against Senthil Balaji in a money laundering case.
The scheme reportedly involves a cash-for-job scam that exploited state transport undertakings between 2014 and 2015. Senthil Balaji has been accused of manipulating his position to orchestrate the fraudulent placement of candidates, displacing deserving applicants. The investigations point toward a network of individuals, including his brother R V Ashok Kumar and personal assistants B Shanmugam and M Karthikeyan, who allegedly facilitated the kickback scheme.
The unfolding scandal has cast a cloud of uncertainty over the region, with Ashok Balaji’s whereabouts in Kochi under question. The lack of flight reservations under the name of Ashok Kumar between Kochi and Chennai for today has raised further suspicions. The investigations are expected to reveal more details as the case progresses, shedding light on the extent of the cash-for-job scam and the individuals involved.
