Raju not allowed to have Sankranthi 'Prasadam' In Jail

HYDERABAD: TDP MLA P Venkata Krishna Rao from Kovvur in West Godavari visited former Satyam chairman, B Ramalinga Raju at the Chanchalguda central
prison on Thursday. Venkata Krishna Rao alias Krishna Babu was accompanied by Teja Raju, son of Ramalinga Raju. The duo was with Raju for more than 45 minutes.

"I am his family friend and came to visit him. He was happy to see me and we spoke for sometime," Rao told the media after the visit. Rao studied with Ramalinga Raju in college.

Teja Raju, however, kept a distance with the media refusing to answer media questions. "No comments," was all what he said

The visitors who came around 11 am brought some more clothes for Raju. The clothes were handed over to the superintendent of the prison who will give them to Ramalinga Raju.

Teja Raju also brought with him some food items which were, however, not allowed into the jail. Sources said this also included `prasadam' of Sankranti pooja. Asked about Ramalinga Raju's health, legislator Venkata Krishna Rao said: "He is just fine".

"His condition is fine. With regular visits from family and friends he is coping better with the change in circumstances. He is getting out of the depression which he had gone into after he came here," a jail staff told TOI.

Though he has books brought to him by his family, Ramalinga Raju is said to be occupied for the better part of the day with newspapers these days, obviously following the developments on the Satyam issue after his sensational disclosure.

A supporter of Ramalinga Raju, Nagaraj put up a placard to a lamp post opposite the entrance to the jail wishing Raju on Sankranti.

The placard which has a flower pasted to one of its edges was addressed to Raju and read: "We are are with you, please do not lose confidence. Wish you a happy and prosperous pongal - Nagaraj".

Ramalinga Raju's advocate S Bharat Kumar, who has been visiting his client almost everyday in jail was there on Thursday also. He met Raju around 12.15 pm. Bharat Kumar said Ramalinga Raju would be produced in the court again on January 23. "The bail process will begin on January 16. There is a fair chance that he will be granted bail," he said.
(SOurce TOI)