TN Guv withdraws order dismissing Senthilbalaji from Cabinet

Chennai, June 30,2023: In a late night development, Tamil Nadu Governor T.N.Ravi withdrew the dismissal order of Minister without portfolio V.Senthilbalaji, arrested by the Ed and in judicial custody, from the State Cabinet and sent message to Chief Minister M.K.Stalin.
Media reports said “Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi, on June 29, withdrew his earlier order dismissing the arrested Minister Senthilbalaji”.
However, there was no official confirmation from the Raj Bhavan. Mr. Ravi conveyed his message to the Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. In a late night communication to the Chief Minister, the Governor said he would consult the attorney general and seek his legal opinion about the move.
The order to dismiss SenthilBalaji from the Council of Ministers has been kept in abeyance by the Governor until further communication, sources said.
Earlier in the day, in an unprecedented action, Mr Ravi “dismissed” Senthilbalaji from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect.
Mr. Senthilbalaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in an alleged money laundering case recently.
A communique from the Raj Bhavan said, there were “reasonable apprehensions that continuation of
Thiru V.Senthilbalaji in the Council of Ministers will adversely impact the due process of law including fair investigation that may eventually lead to breakdown of the Constitutional machinery in the State.”
The Governor, had earlier, “disagreed” with Mr Stalin’s decision to retain Mr. Senthilbalaji as a Minister without portfolio, while reallocating his portfolios to two other senior Ministers.