Doctor who did Sadhick Batcha autopsy resigns

CHENNAI: Dr V Dekal, the forensic surgeon who conducted the postmortem on the body of Sadhick Batcha on Friday, has resigned from government service.

Sadhick Batcha, 39, a close aide of former telecom minister A Raja and a person the CBI considered a vital link in the 2G spectrum money trail, was found hanging at his Chennai residence last Thursday. ( Read: 2G scam: Raja aide Sadiq Batcha found hanging in Chennai residence )

Dr Dekal, an assistant professor of forensic medicine at the Government Royapettah Hospital, said he put in his papers on March 3, more than a fortnight before Batcha's suicide, to contest the Tamil Nadu assembly elections. "I am yet to make up my mind since the relieving order is yet to come. If it comes soon, I may contest as an independent," he said. Dr Dekal's father was a DMK member.

Dr Dekal had said that asphyxiation was the cause of Batcha's death, but did not elaborate on the details since he was awaiting results of laboratory tests on Batcha's visceral organs. ( Read: Sadiq Batcha was under pressure to turn approver, claims friend )

The immediate police reaction to the suicide had raised several questions last Thursday. Though Batcha was declared 'brought dead' to Apollo Hospitals, Chennai at 1.20pm, the postmortem was not carried out the same day. The police said the process could not be initiated as by the time Batcha's wife came to sign the papers, it was too late.

Batcha's body was taken to the Government Royapettah Hospital which did not then have a forensic expert. Dr Dekal, who was on leave, was brought to do the autopsy the next day.