Raja's close aide Batcha's suicide note found

A close aide of jailed former telecom minister A Raja, Sadiq Batcha was on Wednesday found dead in his Chennai home. Though the police and his family suspect suicide, foulplay is not being ruled out in the case.Batcha's suicide note was found by the police on Wednesday evening. In the note, Batcha says he was embarrassed by CBI raids and has blamed no one for his action. Batcha incidentally was booked on a flight to Delhi on Wednesday to appear before the CBI for questioning.
A saree seller turned right hand man of union minister A Raja, 37-year-old Sadiq Batcha's end came as suddenly as his rise from rags to riches.
Batcha's body was found hanging from the ceiling of his Chennai residence on Wednesday afternoon. When all attempts to revive him failed, Batcha's family rushed him to Apollo hospital but the doctors declared him 'brought dead'.
"At 1.20 pm he was found hanging in his room by his wife Banu who rushed him to the Apollo Hospital where we was declared brought dead. We are yet to commence investigations. His wife is yet to lodge a formal complaint. Once she does we will start our investigations. We haven't searched the house yet. The house is locked and we have kept it guarded," said Chennai Police Commissioner T Rajendran.
Batcha's family members say he went to his room at around 9 am on Wednesday and they thought he had gone for a bath. But when he did not come out of his room, they went inside and found him hanging. When all attempts to revive him failed they then took him to hospital where he was declared 'brought dead on arrival'.
Batcha was the managing director of Green House promoters - one of the companies which CBI believes was a front for A Raja - where possibly the bribe money from 2G licenses was routed. Batcha was last questioned in this regard by the CBI on February 24, two months after his premises was raided.
Batcha's wife has lodged a police complaint alleging that he was under mental pressure because of 2G investigations.
The Chennai police has sent the body for post mortem to know the exact circumstances of Batcha's death. But questions are being raised whether Batcha's death was suicide or there was foul play.
However, Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy, who is a petitioner in the 2G case, expressed doubts over Batcha committing suicide.
"Murder and suicide will be a part of this case as lots of big people are involved. Their money, career and reputation is at stake. Sadiq was not a weak heart. He was a hard boiled character. I want to be doubly sure on whether it is a suicide or not," said Swamy.
Swamy added, "Right at the outset, I knew that with so many important people involved, anyone who has any information or is willing to help would be putting his life in danger. In my opinion, the 2G scam is such a big mess, it won't be surprising if there are more murders."
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had questioned him in connection with 2G spectrum scam on February 24. Raja's wife MA Parameshwari was a director in Green House Promoters. Batcha could have provided investigating agencies with vital clues linking Raja to the scam.
Batcha was likely to be questioned by the CBI again in the case and was reportedly coming to Delhi on Wednesday afternoon.
However, CBI officials say that Batcha's death would not hamper investigation as he was just a suspect but not a key player.
Investigators suspected that Batcha floated Green House Promoters to bring in the bribe money. Batcha hailed from Raja's hometown of Peramballur and. His Chennai-based offices and residence has been raided by the CBI on December 15, 2010 in connection with the 2G scam.
While Raja's wife resigned in June 2008 but his other close relatives, RP Parameshkumar (Raja's nephew) and A Kaliyaprumal (Raja's brother) continue to be on the directors list.
Green House was setup in August 2004, just a few weeks after Raja became environment minister in UPA-1.
In 2007, as Raja became the telecom minister, Green House opened its branch in Singapore. The CBI was investigating whether Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and Reserve Bank of India guidelines were followed for setting up the foreign arm and subsequent money transfers between the company and its Singapore arm.
Investigating agencies were also looking into how a company that was formed with a capital of Rs 1 lakh in 2004 soared to revenues of over Rs 600 crore in just five years.
Even as Chennai police investigates how Batcha died, the CBI has assured that his death will not hamper investigations in the 2G case. CBI says all evidence related to Batcha were collected and recorded but real extent of damage done will only be known on March 31 when the chargesheet in the 2G case is filed.