The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has written to the Tamil Nadu government seeking permission to question former minister Senthil Balaji in connection with an alleged cash-for-jobs fraud case.
The allegations relate to the 2011–2016 period, when Senthil Balaji served as a minister during the AIADMK regime. Complaints claim that money was collected from several people on the promise of securing government jobs, and the matter is also under trial in court.
Separately, the ED has registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and is conducting its own probe. The agency’s case reportedly includes names such as Senthil Balaji’s brother Ashok Kumar and a few others. Senthil Balaji was arrested in 2023 in this case and was later released on bail after several months.
As he had been a minister during the DMK government, the ED required the state government’s approval to proceed further against him. Reports said the state had not granted permission despite earlier requests.
With a TVEK-led government now in place in Tamil Nadu, the ED has again sought approval and is said to have sent supporting materials, confidential inputs and complaint documents to the Chief Secretary.
