Satyam's Ramalinga Raju taken into police custody for interrogation

Hyderabad, Jan 18(ANI): Satyam former chairman B. Ramalinga Raju was taken into Police custody on Sunday for four days following a local court order in relation to the Rs. 7800 crore financial fraud in the company.

Sixth Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate D Ramakrishna handed over Raju, his brother ex-MD Rama Raju and former CFO V Srinivas to the police and permitted the CID to question him. But he barred them from questioning him in front of Raju's lawyers.

Raju's ill health has prompted the CID to ensure a medical treatment for him during the interrogation.

The magistrate has put further conditions according to which Raju should be questioned during only during the day time. The police were also directed not to use any third degree methods on the accused.

Ramalinga Raju's counsel S Bharat Kumar, however, expressed his anger over the magistrate's sudden orders without "taking into consideration all aspects of the case". He has challenged to appeal in a higher court against the order.

The police claim that the questions have been framed in such a manner that the accused cannot escape without parting with information.

The questions will include where and how the Rs. 7,000 crore was fudged and who supported him in wrong balancing of the accounts.

"Lie detector test is a ground for getting narco analysis done on the Satyam former boss Ramalinga Raju and his brother Rama Raju if required. We want to keep the option open in the investigation," a CID officer said.

According to the Indian law, no consent of the accused is needed for a lie-detector test. (ANI)