CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji, who was arrested by ED in bribery case gets temporary relief as the Madras High Court allowed him to be transferred to Kauvery Hospital in Chennai while he remains in judicial custody. The interim order of the court came after examining the report on the minister's health condition.

The minister is currently staying in the intensive care unit of Chennai Omandurar Govt. Super Specialty Hospital. After the ED recorded the arrest, he became unwell and was admitted to the hospital. The court order was based on a petition filed by the minister's wife seeking a change of hospital based on a medical report stating that Senthil Balaji has a block in two of his heart arteries and that he needs to undergo an emergency bypass surgery. Although the ED argued that the medical report from the government hospital is not reliable, the court passed an order in favour of Senthil Balaji. The court also said that the minister can be examined by doctors picked by ED.

Meanwhile, after the arrest of Senthil Balaji, the departments he was in charge of were given to other ministers. The power department was handed over to Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu and the excise department to Housing Minister Muthusamy.

ED Balaji was arrested on Wednesday night after hours of questioning in a cash-for-job case.