NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain the bail plea of DMK minister V Senthil Balaji, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case, saying his sickness does not appear to be “serious or life-threatening “.

Balaji was seeking bail on health grounds. The top court was hearing an appeal against an order of the Madras High Court which dismissed his bail plea on October 19, saying he was likely to influence witnesses if enlarged on bail.

An apex court bench of justices Bela M Trivedi and SC Sharma, after perusing the health reports, said there was nothing serious in his health condition and granted liberty to Balaji to approach the trial court to seek regular bail.

Justice Trivedi said, “I checked on Google. It says that it can be cured by medication. It does not appear to be serious or life-threatening... Today, bypass is like getting an appendix removed.”

TIRUCHY/CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday said that Tamil Nadu was the first primary choice of investors in the country because of the conducive investment climate prevailing in the State.

His remarks came after the inauguration of JR-One Phoenix Kothari Footwear factory at the SIPCOT industrial park in Erayur near Perambalurthrough video conferencing on Tuesday.

“The footwear firm has initially invested Rs 400 crore and promised employment for at least 4,000 people. It would also invest Rs 2,440 crore and generate employment for 29,500 persons by 2028,” the Chief Minister said.

“Since the State government is striving to generate employment for educated youth, the investors have been keeping on approaching the State to start their businesses,” said CM Stalin.

“The foundation stone for this footwear company was laid last year after releasing the leather footwear policy and the firm has been inaugurated this year. This is evident that Tamil Nadu would certainly achieve a $1 trillion economy by 2030,”, said Stalin.

“In order to attract investments from multinational companies, the State government has been initiating a series of steps and thus, another footwear park would be established in an area of 250 acres with an estimated cost of Rs 400 crore at Panapakkam in Ranipet district,” he said.

CM Stalin further stated that his government is determined to create jobs.

“Amajor change is evident in the leather sector after his government unveiled the Tamil Nadu Footwear and Leather Goods Policy 2022,” he said.

Transport Minister SS Sivasankar, Industries Minister TRB Rajaa, and MPs A Raja and Thol Thirumavalavan were among the leaders who took part in the inauguration of the footwear factory which was commissioned a year since the works began.