Batcha’s last interview to TOI: Probe will prove my innocence

CHENNAI: One of Sadiq Batcha’s last media interviews was with TOI. This was in December third week at his Green House Promoters office at Teynampet in south Chennai. He was far from apologetic about his alleged role in the 2G scam and took the difficult questions head on. He looked and sounded tough. "It’s all the media’s creation. The CBI investigation will prove I am innocent," was his refrain.

Asked about the Green House promoters, he said: "I started this company with investments from a few friends. We have done a turnover of Rs 100 crore. All our investments on land took place before the 2G spectrum allocation. Our company has not bought even a single piece of land after 2007. The CBI has checked all our records. We have nothing to hide."

He said Equaas Estates, another realty firm he floated in 2004, had done hardly any business. During the conversation, he asked his secretary to serve tea. Not once did Batcha sound shaken or hassled by the CBI raids and the questioning he had undergone. He spoke at length about his association with former telecom minister A Raja, CM M Karunanidhi’s daughter, Kanimozhi and was forthcoming on his real estate business and Delhi connections.

"Being a businessman, it’s nice to know politicians. It was my uncle who introduced me to Raja a decade ago. Since then, we have been maintaining a good relationship. It was Raja who introduced me to Kanimozhi. Our company even gave a donation of Rs 5 lakh to Tamil Maiyam (co-promoted by Kanimozhi and a priest-turned activist Jagath Gasper Raj) in 2006-2007, which conducts Chennai Sangamam (a folk arts extravaganza)," Batcha said. The impression he gave was that of a tough man. Could he have committed suicide?