Supreme Court Reserves Verdict In Senthil Balaji Case

A Supreme Court bench of Justices AS Bopanna and MM Sundresh today (2 August) reserved its verdict on an appeal by minister Senthil Balaji and his wife Megala, against a Madras High Court judgement which allowed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to take him into custody for interrogation.

Appearing on behalf of the ED, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Court about the procedure followed by the ED, the circumstances of the arrest and why the agency should be allowed to take Senthil Balaji in its custody in spite of a 15-day limitation imposed on police custody in the Anupam Kulkarni judgement.

Yesterday (1 August), appearing for Balaji, senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Mukul Rohatgi argued that there was no concept of 'exclusion' of a period during the 15-day duration of police custody and the ED could have questioned him in the hospital, while he was in judicial custody.

Mehta had informed the Court that a decision must be taken soon as the 60-day period mentioned under Section 167 of the CrPc for completing the investigation and filing the chargesheet would end on 13 August.

Balaji is currently lodged in the Puzhal prison as he is under judicial custody till 8 August.

Also Read: 'ED Has Right To Take Senthil Balaji Into Custody', Says Justice CV Karthikeyan In Judgement On Habeas Corpus Plea