HC allows arrested TN minister to be transferred to pvt hospital at his expense

The court was hearing a petition filed by Balaji’s family pertaining to his arrest over alleged involvement in money laundering and a job racket scam. The family had sought that he be transferred to the private Kauvery Hospital, where, according to the family’s lawyer, the minister’s regular physician was based.

The Bench, comprising Justices Nisha Banu and D Bharatha Chakravarthy, said that Balaji must personally cover all costs related to his transfer. Additionally, they permitted a team of medical professionals chosen by the ED to periodically visit Balaji at Kauvery Hospital to keep track of his treatment. The court also stipulated that the duration of Balaji’s hospital stay would not be taken into account when calculating the timeframe for the ED’s petition.

Balaji’s family lawyer, N R Elango, had also contended that proper procedures were not followed with regard to his arrest. The lawyer also noted that doctors advised immediate surgery for Balaji.

During the hearing, the ED had insisted on having Balaji evaluated by a panel of doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, before moving him to a private hospital.

A habeas corpus petition lodged by Balaji’s wife on Wednesday is scheduled for hearing on June 22.

After his arrest and subsequent hospitalisation on Wednesday morning, a city court had remanded Balaji to judicial custody until June 28. The order also permitted him to stay in hospital for treatment.

Initially, the case that came up before the Madras High Court was meant to be heard by a Bench comprising Justices M Sundar and R Sakthivel. However, Justice Sakthivel recused himself from the hearing.