In a startling twist in Sadiq Batcha death case - a key aide of 2G scam mastermind A Raja - CBI now suspects he could have been ‘murdered’.
37-year-old Batcha, who was a ‘crucial suspect’ in 2G scam, was found dead at his Chennai home on March 16 under mysterious circumstances. Later on, probe was handed over to the CBI on April 5 with the direction from the Supreme Court.
“Our probe into the mysterious death of Batcha indicates that he was probably ‘murdered’. Circumstances under which body was found in his room, does not suggest suicide. Even the doctor, who conducted autopsy has also confirmed death due to asphyxia and his body showed compression of the neck with hanging marks.
But we are waiting for final chemical report of viscera,” said a top CBI official. Batcha hailed from Raja’s hometown of Peramballur and CBI suspected that he was holding keys to Raja’s money trail.
CBI made series of inspections of crime scene with forensic experts and reportedly gathered crucial evidences from there. Besides questioning of his family members, close relatives and friends has been done by the Special crime branch unit of federal agency.
The CBI had earlier questioned him (Batcha) four times in connection with its probe in 2G spectrum scam. Batcha’s wife Reha Banu has already lodged a police complaint alleging that he was “unable to cope with the pressure” of the 2G investigation probe. A suicide note allegedly written by him was also recovered by the police.
According to CBI that he was last questioned by the agency at its headquarters in Delhi on Februar 24. Batcha was earlier grilled by CBI on January 29 and February 22 and 23 and his office and residences were raided on December 15 last year. He was also interrogated by Enforcement Directorate on several occasions.
CBI to send AIIMS team to probe Batcha’s death: A team of doctors from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) will go to Chennai soon to probe the circumstances that led to the death of Sadiq Batcha.
CBI sources said the team would examine the viscera besides conducting a number of checks on Batcha’s body. They said the decision was taken after CBI found evidences suggesting “foul play” in Batcha’s death. —With PTI inputs
