CHENNAI: Minister V Senthil Balaji will undergo an open heart surgery at a private hospital in Chennai on Wednesday morning, health minister Ma Subramanian told reporters on Tuesday. Balaji was hospitalised for chest pain soon after the Enforcement Directorate arrested him last week in a cash-for-jobs scam.
Balaji has been diagnosed with “triple vessel disease” and advised Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery at the ‘earliest’ by the doctors at the Government Multi Super Specialty Hospital in Omandurar Estate. He was later shifted to a private hospital after the Madras High Court gave its nod.
When asked about the ED’s claim that Balaji feigned illness after arrest, Subramanian said there are over 25,000 government doctors and lakhs of doctors in ESIC hospitals and the ED’s comment is like doubting the honesty of these doctors. The minister wondered what ED would say after surgery and whether someone would undergo an open heart surgery just to escape from a case.
‘Critical blocks were found only last week’
On Tuesday, Subramanian said his colleague was not aware of the “critical blocks” before they were diagnosed last week by the government doctors. “His family wanted a second opinion, so it was sought from another private hospital doctor. Medical experts from ESI Hospital, referred by ED, also endorsed the need for surgery,” the health minister said.
“Now doctors (at Kauvery Hospital) are ready for the surgery,” he said. Since Balaji was prescribed blood thinners, doctors had to wait for five to six days to prevent bleeding complications, Subramanian said. Meanwhile, the ED has told the principal sessions court that the agency could not carry out custodial interrogation of Balaji as doctors advised against it.
The court had granted eight days of judicial custody to Balaji from June 16 to June 23. Incidentally, ED’s petition against shifting Balaji to the private hospital is also scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday in the Supreme Court. In another development, the Tamil Nadu State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has called for a report from the Joint Director of Enforcement Directorate regarding the arrest of Balaji within six weeks, based on a complaint filed by Balaji’s wife S Megala.