Yoga Guru Ramdev’s close aide Balkrishna, who allegedly used fake educational degrees for procuring a passport, appeared before the CBI on Wednesday for questioning.
In compliance with the Uttarakhand High Court order, Balkrishna reported to the CBI office in Dehra Dun on Wednesday, Balkrishna’s personal secretary said.While staying the arrest of Balkrishna, the state high court had on 29th July asked Balkrishna to cooperate with the CBI in investigations and appear before it on Wednesday for interrogation.
Balkrishna was earlier summoned by the CBI to appear in its office in Dehra Dun for interrogation on 28th July.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 29th July.
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 28th July.However, he recused himself and referred it to Chief Justice Barin Ghosh. The next date of hearing has been fixed on 29th August.
Balkrishna had gone “missing” from his Divya Yoga Mandir Trust residence in Haridwar on 25th July, 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.