CBI for second opinion on Satyam ex-chief’s health
By IANSTuesday, June 29, 2010
HYDERABAD - The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Tuesday raised doubts about the hospital report on the health of disgraced former chairman of Satyam Computers B. Ramalinga Raju and urged the court to take a second opinion through an independent committee of doctors.
The investigation agency, probing the multi-crore-rupee accounting fraud at the IT bellwether, is not satisfied with the report of Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), where Raju is currently undergoing treatment for Hepatitis-C.
The government-run hospital, in its report submitted to the court early this month, had stated Raju, who is in judicial custody, would require another seven months for the treatment.
The 21st additional chief metropolitan magistrate’s court Tuesday directed NIMS to submit a fresh report regarding Raju’s health condition by July 1. The NIMS director has been asked to clarify whether Raju is in fit condition to be produced before the court under medical care while undergoing treatment as an in-patient.
The CBI counsel C. Surendra prayed to the court to constitute an independent committee of doctors and take its second opinion about Raju’s health. He pointed out that Raju’s non-appearance in the court was leading to the delay in the trial.
Magistrate B.V.L.N. Chakravarti posted to Thursday hearing on CBI’s petition for examining Raju through video-conference.
As Raju has not been appearing before the court since September last year citing health reasons, the investigating agency sought the court’s permission to establish video linkage between the court and the NIMS to expedite the case.
The court had last week ordered clubbing three charge-sheets filed by the CBI in the Rs.14,000 crore scam. It rejected CBI’s plea for separate hearing on charge-sheets.
Raju had shocked corporate India in January last year by admitting to a Rs.7,800 crore accounting fraud in the IT major. He and nine other accused including top company officials and auditors were arrested in the case.
The CBI, however, told court in November last year that the scam is of over Rs.14,000 crore.
