Ramdev's aide Balkrishna appears before CBI

Dehra Dun, Aug 3: Yoga Guru Ramdev's close aide Balkrishna, who allegedly used fake educational degrees for procuring a passport, today (Aug 3) appeared before the CBI here for questioning.

In compliance with the Uttarakhand High Court order, Balkrishna reported to the CBI office here, Balkrishna's personal secretary said.

While staying the arrest of Balkrishna, the state high court had on July 29 asked Balkrishna to cooperate with the CBI in investigations and appear before it today for interrogation.

Balkrishna was earlier summoned by the CBI to appear in its office here for interrogation on July 28. However, instead of appearing before the agency, he had sent a fax to the sleuths seeking 20-days' time to appear stating that his passport is with the British High Commission.

But the agency turned down his plea and asked him to appear without passport on July 29. Balkrishna had again requested the CBI to give him 10 days' time.

The petition for stay on Balkrishna's arrest was placed before Justice P C Pant on July 28. However, he recused himself and referred it to Chief Justice Barin Ghosh.

The next date of hearing has been fixed on August 29.

Balkrishna had gone "missing" from his Divya Yoga Mandir Trust residence in Haridwar on July 25, a day after CBI registered a case against him for cheating and criminal conspiracy for procuring fake degree and violation of section 12 of Indian Passport Act for furnishing fake documents to get a passport.

PTI