WEB DESK
The Andhra Pradesh CID has summoned media baron Ramoji Rao to appear before it for questioning on 5 July in connection with the ongoing investigations into the irregularities in Margadarsi Chit Fund.
Rao and his eldest daughter-in-law Sailaja Kiran are the prime accused in the Margadarsi Chit Fund Scam in which several diversion of funds and other violations of the chit fund act took place. Both have been summoned to appear before the probe agency in its regional office at Guntur at 10:30 am on 5 July. The summons explained that all the accused will be simultaneously interrogated at the same place for investigation purpose.
Earlier, the CID authorities had questioned Ramoji Rao and Sailaja Kiron at their respective residences in Hyderabad. The CID additional director general N Sanjay said both Ramoji and Sailaja had not given satisfactory answers to their questions.
There are indications that the CID may use its discretion to arrest Ramoji Rao and Sailaja soon after the interrogation on July 5. If it happens, it will be a big blow to the reputation of Eenadu in general and Ramoji Rao in particular.
The accused have maintained that they were facing political retribution apparently after Rao tried to facilitate an alliance between the TDP and BJP. Chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy often accuses Rao of backing his archrival TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu. The octogenarian is known for supporting Naidu and the TDP in the past as well through his newspaper and television channels.