Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji has been under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case and he was arrested and taken into custody last week. However, as he had complained chest pain after what DMK alleges a harassment from ED, he was rushed to Government Omandurar Multi Superspecialty hospital in Chennai.

While ED's drive of arresting Senthil Balaji has sparked a political slugfest between DMK and BJP, Senthil Balaji's portfolios were awarded to other ministers and he was made the Minister without portfolio. After a legal battle, he was taken to Kauvery Hospital as he was advised to undergo a bypass surgery. He has been under observation from a team of doctors. 

Earlier on June 15, the Sessions Court in Chennai has permitted the ED to take Senthil Balaji for an eight-day custody to interrogate him further. However, ED was in a situation where it can't take the minister under its custody owing to his health condition. As the eight-day custody comes to an end on June 23, the ED has now backtracked from investigating him. 

On Tuesday - June 20, the ED has made a submission in the Chennai Sessions Court that it was unable to question Senthil Balaji. In a submission before Principal Judge S Alli, the central agency said that the minister's health condition has barred them from questioning him. It has been reported that the ED will likely seek another episode of custody after the current term comes to an end.  

On the other hand, Senthil Balaji will undergo a bypass surgery for heart-related ailment at Kauvery Hospital on June 21. Confirming that the surgery will be held on June 21, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian said, "Since the surgery has to be mandatorily performed on Senthil Balaji, it will be done tomorrow."  During his initial treatment at the government hospital, Senthil Balaji had undergone Coronary Angiogram procedure after which he was advised to undergo a bypass surgery at the earliest.