Governor accepts Senthil Balaji’s resignation

Chennai: Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi on Tuesday accepted the resignation of minister V Senthil Balaji. The move follows a letter from chief minister M K Stalin on Monday, recommending that Senthil Balaji’s resignation be accepted. Enforcement Directorate arrested Balaji in June last year in a money laundering case. Balaji was lodged at the Puzhal Central Prison on July 17 after undergoing a bypass surgery in Kauvery Hospital. He has been in prison since then. His pleas have been repeatedly rejected by courts ever since the arrest. Madras high court questioned the continuance of the minister in the cabinet given his long judicial custody. “Based on a letter from the chief minister on Feb 12, recommending acceptance of the resignation of minister Senthil Balaji from the council of ministers, the governor has approved the recommendation and accepted the resignation of Senthil Balaji from the council of ministers,” said a release from Raj Bhavan. tnn