Tainted former minister rushes to hospital fearing arrest by CBI, but is back on learning that he is safe till after Rahul Gandhi's visit, claim sources
Tainted former minister rushes to hospital fearing arrest by CBI, but is back on learning that he is safe till afteru00a0 Rahul Gandhi's visit, claim sources
Fearing arrest? Think hospital. At least that's what A Raja, the tainted former telecom minister seemed to have done on Monday morning. According to sources, he was all set to be hospitalised fearing that the CBI would arrest him in connection with the 2G scam. However, no sooner than Raja learnt that he won't be arrested before Rahul Gandhi's Chennai visit slated for 22 and 23 this month, he was back from a rather quick trip to the hospital.
Relieved: Tainted former Telecom Minister A Raja. File pic
A ploy?
Following summons to him for questioning, the CBI expected to arrest Raja, but the latter rushed to Apollo Hospital in Chennai. However, he was back within minutes claiming that it was only a routine check up, and he was not required to be admitted to the hospital.
His detractors, including former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, claimed that this was his ploy to avoid arrest.
However, a source close to him said it was a phone call that indicated that there was no chance of his arrest for at least two days, which made him changing his mind.
"Rahul Gandhi is visiting Chennai and the Congress doesn't want any untoward scenes in the city," said the source. "Accordingly, Raja got some extra time and the hospitalisation was not required."
Second life
It is the second time that Raja is getting a breather after the investigating agency postponed his 'arrest' that was supposed to have had happened last Friday. The decision came just two days before the All India Congress Committee (AICC) met for its plenary at Delhi.
Refuting the charges, Raja said he was not was not in hiding and he would not apply for anticipatory bail.
"When I was in Chennai, I received a letter from the CBI, following which I sent a letter informing them that I was in the city.
I have some personal work and a health check up. I told the CBI that I would come on any other date convenient for them. It is up to the CBI now to tell me about the new date," added the DMK leader.Inputs from Ramesh Kanteerava in Chennai
| The Other Side |
| >>On Monday morning, the CBI had asked Raja and Niira Radia to make themselves available for an interrogation. Radia is alleged to have lobbied ferociously for Raja to be made Telecom Minister after the UPA won the general elections in 2009. |
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