Sadhick Batcha death not to affect probe : CBI

The CBI on Wednesday claimed that former telecom minister A Raja’s close aide Sadhick Batcha’s death will not affect the ongoing investigation in the 2G spectrum scam. The agency stated that all the statements in connection with Batcha have been recorded and evidence gathered in the scam.

The investigating agency’s official spokesperson said there had been no pressure from the CBI on Batcha. “ The development is unexpected but will not affect the investigation in the ongoing 2G spectrum scam,” the spokesperson said. “ Batcha was not a key player and was not directly involved in the scam. The agency is all set to file its chargesheet on or before March 31, a deadline set by the apex court,” a CBI official said.

The CBI had earlier searched Batcha’s premises in December last year and recovered crucial documents. The agency had also questioned Batcha on January 29 and then continuously for three days starting from February 22 to 24. The enforcement directorate had also questioned him twice in February.

“ Our investigation will carry on as we have already got important leads, on the basis of which letters rogatory ( LRs) were sent to many countries,” an ED official said.

Batcha had provided key leads to the agencies and had assured ED authorities of submitting more documents on March 28, including details of financial transactions of his company Green House Promoters.

The CBI had earlier claimed to have partially decoded the money trail in the 2G scam. According to top CBI officials, the agency had got strong leads in Genex Exim- Etisalat deal (stakeholders in Swan Telecom) and Shahid Balwa’s connection with Green House Promoters.

Balwa, promoter of Swan Telecom (now Etisalat DB) and DB Realty group, had on December 22, 2010, written to the CBI stating that he had met Batcha during his visit to the ministry of environment in 2006. A. Raja was then holding the portfolio for environment and forests. Balwa, currently in judicial custody, had “ offered to revamp Batcha’s firm and improve their business/entrepreneur skills”.