Balkrishna fails to meet CBI
The Central Bureau of Intelligence (CBI) on Thursday issued fresh summons to Acharya Balkrishna, yoga guru Ramdev's aide, to appear before the agency on Friday, in connection with the allegation that he used fake documents to acquire his passport.
The Central Bureau of Intelligence (CBI) on Thursday issued fresh summons to Acharya Balkrishna, yoga guru Ramdev's aide, to appear before the agency on Friday, in connection with the allegation that he used fake documents to acquire his passport.
Balkrishna had been asked to go to the CBI office on Thursday, but he did not. In a faxed message, he told the CBI he did not come because he would not have been able to obey the agency's directive of producing his passport, as it was with the British high commission for the issue of a visa.
He said he needed another 20 days to appear before the agency. In support of his statement, he enclosed the British high commission website's printed copy on the matter.
Balkrishna also said he was taking legal advice from renowned lawyer Ram Jethmalani.
Seeing the problem, the CBI has now asked him to come without a passport. CBI spokesman Dharini Mishra said, "We are aware he has asked for some more time to appear before the CBI because he may take time to retrieve his passport, but the CBI has asked him to appear on Friday even if he does not have a passport with him currently."
Balkrisha's counsel moved the Uttarakhand high court on Thursday and sought relief against possible CBI action.
Meanwhile, in a meeting with mediapersons on Thursday, Baba Ramdev defended his aide. Balkrishna had many tasks to handle and "not the hearing of the CBI alone," he said. Balkrishna's lawyer was unable to accompany him because his (lawyer's) father was not well. Every accused has the right to appear before the investigating agency with his lawyer, he said.
Ramdev, however, also said he had full confidence in the judiciary.
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