Mr B. Ramalinga Raju finally made a brief appearance on Tuesday before the special trial court going into the Satyam scam, managing to avoid media glare. It is nearly a year since the former founder and ex-chairman of Satyam Computer Services has been under treatment for Hepatitis C at the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences and consistently citing medical grounds for not appearing for trial. Last week, he was granted bail by the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which, however, had directed him to attend the trial ‘without fail’.
Sporting a white shirt and dark trousers, an unshaven, weak-looking, yet smiling, Mr Raju, who is on bail, presented himself before the XXIV Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Mr B.V. L. N. Chakravarti, along with nine other accused including the ex-CFO, Mr V. Srinivas and the former Satyam Managing Director, Mr B. Rama Raju.
Mr Raju, who was accompanied by his doctor, had arrived nearly 30 minutes before the court time and waited in his car. Minutes before the trial could begin, he marked his presence before the magistrate.
Taking his medical condition into consideration, the Court permitted him to go back to hospital immediately.
The case was adjourned to August 26.
“Mr Raju appeared in court only because he was directed by the High Court to do so while granting bail, but not because he was healthy,” his counsel, Mr K. Bharat Kumar, told newspersons later.
Mr Raju, prime accused in the over Rs 7,136 crore financial fraud, would have to attend court every time during the trial though he was not required to make himself available before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as long as he is in hospital.
Meanwhile, the CBI is getting ready to file a counter in the Supreme Court to Mr Raju being granted bail. “Most probably, it will be moved in the next two days,” Mr Lakshmi Narayana, DIG- CBI ,told newspersons outside the court.
