By IANS,
Chennai : Sadiq Batcha, a close associate of former union communications minister A. Raja and had been questioned by the CBI in the 2G spectrum scam, committed suicide here Wednesday, police said.
According to police, Batcha was found hanging at his residence. His body was discovered by his family members.
Batcha was taken to Apollo Hospital around 1.30 p.m by his wife and another person and was pronounced dead by doctors.
The body was taken to the Government Royapettah Hospital for post-mortem examination. The police are questioning family members of Batcha.
Batcha was being probed for the money trail in the Rs.1.76-trillion 2G spectrum scam.
Batcha’s death seems to have come at a crucial time when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is planning to file a charge sheet against Raja by March 31.
The CBI had raided Batcha’s company Green House Promoters and house last December.
Raja’s wife Parameswari was on the company board for some time. However, she resigned in 2008.
Raja’s brother A. Kaliyaperumal and close relative R.P. Prameshkumar continue to be on the board of Green House Promoters.
Batcha hailed from Raja’s home town Perambalur in Tamil Nadu and became close to Raja through a DMK functionary.
The Green House Promoters, from being a nondescript company with an equity base of Rs.100,000 in 2004, grew to over Rs.600 crore revenue company within a short time.
The CBI is investigating the rapid growth of the company in such a short span.