CBI to question Ramdev aide Balkrishna on Wed

Yoga Guru Ramdev's confidant Balkrishna will appear before Central Bureau of Investigation officials in Dehra Dun on Wednesday to be interrogated for allegedly procuring fake educational certificates and getting a passport on their basis.

Balkrishna is facing charges of cheating and criminal conspiracy for fraudulently obtaining fake educational degrees and using them in getting a passport. "He will be appearing before CBI tomorrow," said S K Tijarawala, spokesperson of Ramdev managed Patanjali Yogapeeth at Hardiwar.

While hearing a plea filed by CBI, Uttarakhand high court had on July 29 stayed the arrest of Ramdev's aide and asked him to appear before the investigating agency on August 3.

The court has also asked the accused to cooperate with the CBI in its investigations. "We will cooperate in the probe," the spokesperson said without divulging further information in the matter.

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.