Published Jul 12, 2023 | 10:36 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 12, 2023 | 12:42 PM
Governor Ravi had written a letter to the Chief Secretary stating that he is holding his decision on Minister Balaji for a legal consultation with the Attorney General.
Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi met the attorney general of India and Union law minister in New Delhi on Tuesday, 11 July, amidst his ongoing clash with the state government over the continuation of Minister V Senthil Balaji, arrested in a money laundering case, in Chief Minister MK Stalin’s Cabinet.
The Governor’s Delhi visit gained significance against the backdrop of Stalin’s refusal to drop Balaji from his Cabinet, and his allegation that Ravi had not granted permission to persecute former minister from the AIADMK.
Balaji was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on 14 June in a cash-for-jobs case, allegedly committed when he was the transport minister in the late J Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK ministry.
On 29 June, Ravi “dismissed” Balaji from the Council of Ministers before keeping the termination order in abeyance to consult the attorney general.
The Governor, who reached Delhi on 7 July, met Union Home Minister Amit Shah the next day. It was his first meeting with Shah after his fallout with the state government over the dismissal of Balaji.
Sources said Ravi met Attorney General R Venkataramani on Tuesday and discussed in detail the legal implications of removing Balaji, now a minister without portfolio. He was the minister for power, excise, and prohibition when the ED arrested him
The ongoing cases involving Balaji in the Madras High Court and Supreme Court were also discussed. The Governor also met Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.
Hon'ble Governor Ravi had a purposeful meeting with Hon'ble Union Home Minister Thiru. Amit Shah in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/jyp3CKK3TP
— RAJ BHAVAN, TAMIL NADU (@rajbhavan_tn) July 8, 2023
The Raj Bhavan termed Ravi’s meeting with Shah “purposeful”. However, the Raj Bhavan did not share any further information.
On 29 June, Governor Ravi communicated to Chief Minister Stalin that he had dismissed Balaji from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect, saying the minister “is facing serious criminal proceedings in several cases of corruption”.
Stalin rejected the Governor’s order, saying he wielded no powers to dismiss a minister, and added that his government would face the issue legally. Hours later, however, the Raj Bhavan issued another communication placing the contentious order on hold.
In the letter addressed to Chief Minister Stalin, Ravi said, “I have been advised by the Hon’ble Union Minister of Home Affairs that it would be prudent to seek the opinion of the Attorney General also … Meanwhile, the order of dismissal of the minister Thiru V Senthil Balaji may be kept in abeyance until further communication from me.”
In a detailed letter, Stalin took on the Governor, saying he had acted in haste with scant regard for the Constitution. Ravi was also blamed for not permitting the prosecution of the former AIADMK ministers.
“Even the request of the CBI for sanction of prosecution in the Gutka case has not been acted upon by you,” Stalin blamed.
The Raj Bhavan issued a media statement in response to the chief minister’s letter. It said the permission could not be granted since the state government had not submitted a duly authenticated copy of the investigation report for further action.
In response to the Governor’s reply, the government released the acknowledgment receipts the Raj Bhavan officials had signed upon receiving the files, purportedly about the corruption cases against former AIADMK ministers.
