Satyam scam: Raju appears before local court

HYDERABAD: B Ramalinga Raju, the tainted founder of Satyam Computer, on Thursday appeared before a local court trying the multi-crore accounting scam in the company.

This was Raju's second appearance at the court after being granted bail by the Andhra Pradesh High Court last week.

Raju, who is the main accused in the accounting fraud in erstwhile Satyam Computer, looked fragile and was accompanied by his doctor at the XXI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court, which is trying the case as per the High Court's direction.

His presence in the court lasted a few minutes before he took permission from the magistrate BVLN Chakravarti and left the court hall.

Raju's counsel Bharat Kumar, while speaking to mediapersons outside the court hall, said as long as the magistrate grants Raju permission to leave the court hall after marking an appearance, they will not approach the High Court seeking exemption from appearing in person.

To a query, he said that Raju's health was improving gradually.

The arguments on hearing of charges against the 10 accused, all of whom are out on bail, in the scam has been posted for tomorrow.

Raju had been avoiding appearance in the court since September last year citing health reasons.

Raju was arrested on January 9, last year, for his involvement in the scam and is currently our on bail.