Minister for Electricity, Prohibition, and Excise duty, Senthil Balaji (47), has been advised to undergo bypass surgery after a coronary angiogram revealed triple vessel disease, according to a medical bulletin from Omandurar Hospital. The surgery is recommended to be conducted at the earliest. The bulletin also mentioned that Minister Balaji experienced chest pain while being taken for investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Sources indicate that the ED will seek the opinion of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) based on the medical report.
Senthil Balaji’s arrest is related to his involvement in the cash for jobs scam during his tenure as the transport minister from 2011 to 2015 in the AIADMK regime. Chief Minister MK Stalin visited Balaji at the hospital, accompanied by ministers PK Sekar Babu, M Subramanian, and Udhayanidhi Stalin, who are also present at the hospital.
According to doctors, Balaji complained of chest pain and discomfort, and variations were observed in his electrocardiogram (ECG). The incident occurred when Balaji was being transported, likely in a car used by the ED officials, initially presumed to be headed to the ED office in Nungambakkam for further questioning. However, within moments, Balaji began screaming in pain, clutching his chest. He was wearing the same attire he had on when he returned home on Tuesday morning after learning that ED officials were searching his house.
The need for bypass surgery adds a significant medical dimension to the ongoing legal proceedings against Minister Senthil Balaji in the cash for jobs scam case.
