DMK Liquor Minister V Senthil Balaji, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at around 4 AM on 14 June 2023, after conducting searches at his premises including his official residence on Greenways Road in Chennai and his office at the State Secretariat in connection with a money laundering case.
These searches are part of an ongoing investigation allegedly for his involvement in a job recruitment scam during his tenure as the transport minister in the erstwhile Jayalalithaa government between 2011 and 2015.
Following the raid on his properties on Tuesday (13 June 2023), the ED took the DMK leader into custody for questioning.
Under tight security, Senthil Balaji was taken to the Omandurar government hospital in Chennai for a medical examination early on Wednesday, as he had complained of “experiencing chest pain”.
Dramatic scenes unfolded as the DMK leader arrived at the hospital. He was seen crying while lying inside a car and kicking those who were trying to get him out of the car.
#WATCH | Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji breaks down as ED officials took him into custody in connection with a money laundering case and brought him to Omandurar Government in Chennai for medical examination pic.twitter.com/aATSM9DQpu
— ANI (@ANI) June 13, 2023
#Breaking |
என்னால முடியல – நெஞ்சை பிடித்து அழுத செந்தில் பாலாஜி#SenthilBalaji | #SenthilBalajiArrest | #NewsTamil24x7 pic.twitter.com/IpGb4QMx18— News Tamil 24×7 | நியூஸ் தமிழ் 24×7 (@NewsTamilTV24x7) June 14, 2023
Many netizens pointed out wetness in his pants speculating that the DMK Minister urinated out of fear.
காலை எழுந்தவுடன் கிடைத்த நல்ல செய்தி😆😆😆
சாராய அமைச்சர் செந்தில் பாலாஜியை விசாரணைக்கு அழைத்து செல்லும் வழியில் கலைஞர் 🖤❤️ பாணியில் நாடகம்🤣🤣🤣
உச்சா வேற போய் இருக்கான் டா 😅😂🤣😁🫢 pic.twitter.com/BTUp8BDH3Z
— K.Ashok adv (@ashok777_kalam) June 14, 2023
One netizen wrote “Good news as I woke up. Liquor Minister Senthil Balaji who was apprehended for investigation enacts drama like Kalaignar (Karunanidhi). He has urinated too!”
ஆக…
கைது செய்யப்படும் போது எந்த ஒரு சங்கியும் "அய்யோ கொல்றாங்கப்பா" என்று கத்துவதும் இல்லை, பேண்டிலே உச்சா போவதும் இல்லை 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/3L3vL6hiNX— ஈன வெங்காயம் 🇮🇳 (@eena_vengayam) June 14, 2023
Another netizen wrote “No Sangi during arrest ever shouted ‘Ayayo.. they’re killing me’ (referring to Karunanidhi’s arrest) or pissed in his pants (referring to Senthi Balaji)”
பயத்தில் உச்சா போன திருடன் 😅😂 https://t.co/gIyqRsH6eT pic.twitter.com/8rt6aeFokd
— மண்டகஷாயம் சங்கி🇮🇳🇮🇳🚩🚩 (@dineshdhashina) June 14, 2023
“The thief who pissed in his pants out of fear”, wrote another.
ஒரு நாள் விசாரணைக்கு உச்சா போராங்களே!
ஒரு வேளை மிசாவில் ஆய் போயிருப்பானுங்க போல!🤣🤣
உச்சசா போன #பத்துரூபா_பாலாஜி #உச்சா_பாலாஜி#We_Support_Senthilbalaji 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/ZWHDQtdLzC
— மானத்தமிழன் (@thambi182009) June 14, 2023
“For one day arrest itself, they’re pissing in their pants. They must’ve sh*t in their pants during MISA (Emergency”, wrote a Naam Tamilar Katchi supporter.
அடேய் சங்கீஸ் என்னப்பா இப்படி பேண்ட்டுல உச்சா போர அளவுக்கு பண்ணிட்டிங்க பாவம்யா அந்தாளு 😔😔😔#Annamalai #ADMK #EdappadiPalaniswami #SenthilBalaji #பத்துரூபா_பாலாஜி #EDRaid pic.twitter.com/NDrMZhh3DM
— Aadhi Shiva (@aadhi_shiva1718) June 13, 2023
“Hey you Sanghis, you made the poor guy pee in his pants”, wrote a BJP supporter.
A Twitterati asked a doctor whether pissing in pants or kicking action are symptoms of cardiac arrest or health related issues.
Responding to this, senior cardiologist Dr. Deepak Krishnamurthy said that it may be because the person is having low supply of oxygen to the brain or may be having seizures due to cardiac arrest.
Means the patient is experiencing extremely low blood supply to brain and is having seizures due to cardiac arrest. Or it maybe a seizure disorder or stroke.
— Dr Deepak Krishnamurthy (@DrDeepakKrishn1) June 14, 2023
Senthil Balaji is currently under medical examination at the Omandurar Government Hospital.