Tamil Nadu Governor Retracted Senthil Balaji’s Sacking On Amit Shah’s Advice

Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi hurriedly backtracked on his decision to dismiss arrested Minister V. Senthilbalaji after Union home minister Amit Shah asked him to also seek the attorney general's opinion on the matter.

"I have been advised by the Union Minister of Home Affairs that it would be prudent to seek the opinion of the Attorney General also," Ravi said in a letter to chief minister M K Stalin on Thursday.

"Accordingly, I am approaching the Attorney General for his opinion. Meanwhile, the order of dismissal of the minister V Senthil Balaji may be kept in abeyance until further communication from me," Hindustan Times quoted Governor Ravi as saying.

On Thursday, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi dismissed jailed DMK leader V Senthil Balaji from the state cabinet with immediate effect, a statement from the Raj Bhavan said.

"Minister V Senthil Balaji is facing serious criminal proceedings in a number of cases of corruption including taking cash for jobs and money laundering. Abusing his position as a Minister, he has been influencing the investigation and obstructing the due process of law and justice," the statement said.

The Governor noted that Balaji is in judicial custody in a criminal case which is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate and some more criminal cases against him under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code are being investigated by the state police.

"There are reasonable apprehensions that continuation of V Senthil Balaji in the Council of ministers will adversely impact the due process of law including a fair investigation that may eventually lead to the breakdown of the Constitutional machinery in the state," the statement added.

However, Tamil Nadu Chief Miniter M K Stalin said that they will fight the issue legally.

"The Governor doesn't have rights, we will face this legally," he said on the dismissal of Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji. Governor Ravi's dramatic move is expected to further intensify the ongoing tussle between him and the DMK regime over several issues such as Bills awaiting his assent.

On June 14, Minister Senthil Balaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).