Bail hearing of Rajus, Srinivas today

19 Jan 2009,



HYDERABAD: Hyderabad court will hear on Monday the bail petitions of Satyam's disgraced founder B Ramalinga Raju, his brother Rama Raju and their former chief financial officer Vadlamani Srinivas.

Sebi's application seeking to question Raju will also come up for hearing on Monday.

On Sunday, Rajus and Vadlamani were formally taken into police custody and were grilled by CID sleuths.

All three of them reportedly 'cooperated' with Crime Investigation Department (CID) investigators, but did not divulge any important information that might help the investigation.

The trio, accused in the over Rs 7,000 crore Satyam scam, were taken into custody by the CID at Chanchalguda jail at about 11.45 am after medical examination at the jail itself.

Raju was brought to CID office located at AC Guards at about 12 noon on Sunday. CID sources said grilling of the trio began at around 12.30 pm and ended at 5.40 pm as court directed police not to question the accused after 6 pm. At the end of the interrogation, a team of doctors examined the trio and certified "they are in good health condition".

"During the five hours, they were questioned only for two hours. The CID questioned them after 2 pm after lunch. They were interrogated separately with a prepared questionnaire in the presence of Satyam counsel,'' an official said.

While Ramalinga Raju was questioned on the third floor and the other two were questioned on fourth floor of the CID building at AC Guards. Cyber Crime Wing, Women Protection Wing and General Offences Wing are functioning out of this building. On the fourth floor, there is a cell and interrogation room for CID.

The CID reportedly fired questions pertaining to where he had diverted the Rs 7,000 crore money, from when he started fudging accounts, who were involved in the scam, bank accounts and properties on his name, his family members and benami names.

The trio would be interrogated on Monday as well.

Earlier in the day, amid scores of curious onlookers and a battery of mediapersons, Ramalinga Raju, Rama Raju and Vadlamani Srinivas were spirited out of the Central Prison, Chanchalguda.

The Rajus stepped out of the prison after eight days.

Due to the huge crowd turnout and scores of vehicles parked outside the jail, there was a traffic jam for over half an hour. In fact, the CID investigators had a tough time to wriggle out from the mess created by his supporters, media and the traffic jam. One of Raju's supporter clung to the car, the trio were seated in, as the convoy set out.

Several supporters of Raju and some employees of Satyam were waiting at the prison since early morning to catch a glimpse of the former Satyam boss.