Former Tamil Nadu minister V. Senthil Balaji’s brother, R. V. Ashok Kumar, has petitioned the Madras High Court for permission to travel to the United States for critical medical treatment. He is currently under an Enforcement Directorate (ED) Look Out Circular (LOC), issued in connection with a money laundering case tied to the alleged “cash-for-jobs” scamAccording to the petition, Ashok Kumar has been diagnosed with severe cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease, and underwent a coronary angioplasty in 2021. Despite the procedure, his condition has worsened, affecting multiple organs. Doctors have recommended advanced treatment available only in the US to restore proper blood flow and improve his long-term health
A division bench of the Madras High Court, led by Justices M. S. Ramesh and V. Lakshminarayanan, has directed the Enforcement Directorate to respond and has scheduled the next hearing for July 22. Ashok Kumar was also instructed to submit his detailed travel itinerary as part of the legal proceedings
The decision follows the dismissal of an earlier trial court order where his plea to rescind the LOC was rejected. Counsel for Ashok Kumar argued that travel permission should be granted on humanitarian grounds given the seriousness of his medical condition and the lack of treatment alternatives available in India.
With the ED yet to respond formally, the case remains pending, and the timeline for resolution now stretches beyond the initial healing window in the US. The High Court’s upcoming decision will determine if Ashok Kumar can travel abroad for the treatment necessary to restore his health.