ED access to PMLA case files against Senthilbalaji

The Madras High Court set aside the observation made by a special court trying MPs and MLAs that it cannot grant the certified copies of unmarked documents to the enforcement directorate for aiding investigation under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with the alleged complaints lodged against Minister V Senthilbalaji of receiving bribes for offering jobs in the transport department during his tenure as minister between 2011 and 2015.

A division bench of Justice PN Prakash and Justice AA Nakkiran passed the orders on hearing the petition filed by ED challenging the order of the additional special court trying criminal cases against the MPs and MLAs.

The petitioner challenged the order of the additional special court that refused to provide the certified copies of unmarked documents in the alleged bribery case. Since the charge sheets filed by the state police disclosed the commission of a scheduled offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act viz Section 420 of IPC, the ED registered a case against Senthilbalaji and others on July 29, 2021.