Arrested Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthilbalaji suffered a major setback at the Madras High Court on Friday, with Justice C.V. Karthikeyan, the third judge named by Chief Justice S.V. Gangapurwala following a split verdict by a Division Bench on July 4, ruling that a habeas corpus petition (HCP) filed by his wife Megala, is not maintainable.
Justice C.V. Karthikeyan also held that the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) can subject to custodial interrogation any person accused in a case booked under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, and the Minister can be taken into custody even after the expiry of 15 days from his arrest on June 14.
After answering all three questions framed by him, on the points of differences between the two judges of the Division Bench, the third judge directed the High Court Registry to list the matter again before the same Bench, with the consent of the Chief Justice, for a formal closure of the case by taking the majority view into consideration.
