Raja’s presence in court leads to media scramble

NEW DELHI - It was a melee of media persons at the Patiala House court complex as former communications minister A. Raja was brought in amid tight security, just after 2 p.m.

The police barricaded the complex’s entrance to prevent the army of media persons from pushing the three accused - Raja, former telecom secretary Sidharth Behura, and Raja’s private secretary R. K. Chandolia.

When he entered the court room wearing a grey safari suit, the DMK leader greeted the special CBI judge, O.P. Saini with folded hands. Then with a serious look on his face, Raja listened to arguments made by the lawyers of CBI and defence for nearly one and a half hours.

When the judge pronounced that he had been sent to CBI custody for five days, along with the other two, Raja made a single request - to meet his relatives who had come to the court premises.

He was taken to a small room, just next to the court room, which is basically the public prosecutor’s office. There, he had a private word with his relatives, before he was bundled away to CBI headquarters.

As the media scrambled to get a shot, he was seen to crack a smile - but only for a few seconds.

While a few relatives and his personal doctor were present, Raja’s wife and daughter were absent.

However, several close family members of Chandolia, including his wife, were at the court to support him. Sitting outside the courtroom, which was jam packed, his wife was crying profusely all through even as her close relatives were trying to console her.

Amongst all three, Siddharth Behura seemed to be most calm and composed. His son had come to the court to meet him.

There were easily over 50 cameras of news channels and over 20 photographers. While some were standing on chairs near the entrance to catch a perfect view, others had climbed atop the entrance wall of the courts complex. The circus finally dispersed once the trio were rushed out of the court.

The court also permitted Behura to be taken to the Indraprastha Apollo hospital Feb 5 to meet his wife before and after her operation, if she undergoes one.

According to sources, Raja and his aides may not be allowed to have home-cooked food, but will instead be catered to by the investigating agency.

They will be staying during their questioning at the anti-corruption branch at CBI headquarters in CGO complex, a collection of central government offices, in central Delhi.