The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted raids at multiple locations across Tamil Nadu in connection with a new money laundering investigation against state minister Senthil Balaji and others. The probe is linked to alleged irregularities in the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), which controls the liquor trade in the state, sources said.
According to officials, ED teams searched around 10 locations in Karur and other places, with personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) providing security during the operation.
The fresh investigation comes months after the Supreme Court granted Balaji bail in September 2024 in a separate money laundering case related to alleged recruitment irregularities in the state transport department. Within three days of securing bail, Balaji was reinstated as the minister for electricity, prohibition, and excise—portfolios he previously held from May 2011 to June 2023 before his arrest.
Previous Allegations Against Balaji
In the earlier case, the ED accused Balaji of misusing his position as transport minister in the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government between 2011 and 2015. The agency’s 2023 charge sheet alleged that he engaged in corrupt practices for personal gains, amassing illicit proceeds through criminal activities.
The ED further claimed that Balaji, along with his brother, personal assistants, and transport department officials, conspired to execute a fraudulent recruitment scheme. The Tamil Nadu government, however, has dismissed the ED’s actions as politically motivated.
As the latest round of raids unfolds, political tensions are expected to rise, with Balaji’s supporters likely to challenge the federal agency’s probe. The ED has yet to release an official statement on the findings from Thursday’s searches.
Sources By Agencies