Dec. 9: CBI officials on Wednesday picked up for questioning Mr Sadhick Batcha, who reportedly handles the “business interests” of the former Union telecom minister, Mr A. Raja.
Mr Batcha, who runs Green House, a real estate firm, was picked up by the CBI officials from his posh house in Teynampet and was later let off.
Sources said that Mr Batcha, who travels in imported cars now, was once selling saris in installments by travelling in cycle in Perambalur, the native place of Mr Raja.
“Batcha shifted to chit fund and later to real estate business,” said the source. “He was first close to AIADMK but after the change in power, he made friends with DMK leaders including Mr Raja.”
The company’s website says Mr Batcha is the managing director of Green House along with Mr A. Kaliaperumal, brother of Mr Raja, director of the board.
The website claims that Batcha has an MBA degree and has experience in real estate for more than 15 years. “His impeccable leadership skills have been instrumental in the excellent performance our organisation,” it boasts. Green House had recently entered into a strategic alliance with tyre major MRF to facilitate land acquisition of about 500 acres for their new project in South India, says the website.
Mr Raja was forced to resign last month after the CAG indicted him in the spectrum allocation scam and for causing losses estimated between `58,000 crore and `1.76 lakh crore to the exchequer. The 2G spectrum saga has crippled Parliament since November 10 as the Opposition refused to give up its demand for a joint parliamentary committee probe into the scam.