Court permits Raju to file counter reply against CBI charge

HYDERABAD: A city court permitted disgraced Satyam founder B Ramalinga Raju to file a detailed counter against CBI's allegation that he had violated court orders and met several people at NIMS here where he is presently undergoing treatment.

The investigating agency had last week alleged that about 234 persons met Raju between December 12, 2009 and March 27, 2010 at the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), where he is undergoing treatment for Hepatitis-C.

A court in its order on December 5 last year specified that Raju, the prime accused in the multi-crore financial fraud in Satyam Computers, should not be allowed to meet others except his wife or son to attend him in the hospital.

Raju should not be allowed to influence any person with regard to the case, the court order had stated.

However, the CBI had alleged that several "rich and mighty" of society were coming and interacting with Raju in the hospital where he is under judicial custody.

Objecting to the CBI allegations, Raju's counsels today said only 12 advocates are meeting him in the hospital as he is facing over 40 cases across the world.

Following CBI's petition on the issue, the superintendent of Chanchalguda Central Prison had asked each counsel to take permission prior to meeting Raju, the defence counsels said.