Satyam case: Court again seeks medical report of Raju

With B Ramalinga Raju failing to appear before it in the multi-crore Satyam scam, a Hyderabad court on Thursday again sought a report from a hospital whether the IT firm's former chairman, undergoing treatment for Hepatitis-C, was fit to be produced before it or not.

The special court, hearing the Rs 7100-crore (Rs 71-billion) financial scam, wants to examine all accused in the case over charges mentioned against them by the CBI.

But, Raju, the prime accused, again failed to appear before it on Thursday, citing his treatment at the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences hospital in Hyderabad.

His counsel, when asked by Special Judge BVLN Chakravarti, submitted that he has no information about the present health condition of his client.

After this, the Judge called for a report from NIMS director on whether Raju's condition allows him to be produced before the court under medical care.

The court adjourned the case to March 26, and also extended the judicial remand of all 10 accused till then.

The CBI, which is probing the Satyam scam, had earlier alleged that the NIMS doctors were prolonging the treatment of Raju to delay the trial.

Head of Gastroenterology department Dr Ajit Kumar, in his previous report to the court last week said Raju should continue to undergo treatment 'as an in-patient for further four-six weeks, as he carries very high risk for morbidity on out-patient management.'

Meanwhile, on the petition by Enforcement Directorate seeking permission to allow it to examine four Satyam accused, the judge directed them to file their counters, if any, on the matter by March 26.

The CBI also filed a memorandum before the court, submitting that K Surendar was appointed as senior special counsel and E Srinivas Reddy and K Venu Madhav as junior special counsels for the agency.

The court also posted for hearing on March 26 the petitions filed by family members of some of accused seeking de-freezing of their accounts.

Image: B Ramalinga Raju