Baba Ramdev aide Balkrishna told to appear before CBI on Friday

NEW DELHI: CBI has asked Yoga guru Baba Ramdev's aide Balkrishna to appear before it on Friday. It turned down his request for 20 more days to present himself for questioning in a case under the Passport Act. Balkrishna, fearing arrest, is likely to move the Uttarakhand High Court, seeking anticipatory bail.

Balakrishnan had said that his travel document was with the British High Commission as he had applied for a UK visa. In a fax to CBI, Balkrishna sought some more time to enable him fetch his passport from the British High Commission. CBI, however, rejected his request and directed him to appear before it on Friday, even if it meant visiting its headquarters without his passport.

CBI had asked him to present himself for questioning initially on Thursday, but he failed to keep the date with the investigating agency. He, instead, sent a fax in the morning.

In his fax, Balkrishna also said he was also in the process of consulting Supreme Court lawyer Ram Jethmalani and wanted CBI to give him any other date after 20 days. He claimed he came to know about the CBI notice, which was pasted on the ashram gate, on Wednesday.

CBI has earlier issued a look-out notice against him after registering a case against under Section 420 (cheating) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC for procuring fake degree and for violating Section 12 of the Indian Passport Act (knowingly furnishing false documents for getting passport).