TDP wants bail for Ramalinga Raju

Hyderabad Jan 12:: In a sudden about-turn, the Telugu Desam Party on Sunday asked the government to secure bail for Mr B. Ramalinga Raju, disgraced chairman of Satyam Computer.

TDP spokesperson Nannapaneni Rajakumari also demanded that if Mr Raju continues to be in jail, he should be given better medical facilities. "It is learnt that Mr Raju is frequently complaining of chest pain. But the jail authorities are not providing him proper medical care," Ms Rajakumari said. "Mr Raju’s life is in danger now," she said.

Ms Rajakumari saw no fault of the Rajus in the Satyam scam. She said Mr Raju had been jailed and not allowed to speak because the government was afraid that he would spill the beans.

Hours earlier, a TDP legislator turned up at the Chanchalguda jail to meet the Rajus. Jail officials turned away Mr P. Venkata Krishna Rao, alias Krishna Babu, TDP MLA from Kovvur, as mulakat (meetings) are not allowed on Sundays. He had come to meet Mr B. Ramalinga Raju. Asked why he went to meet the Rajus on a day when the TDP was demanding a CBI probe, Mr Rao said he was a friend of the Rajus. He said he would go again on Monday.

Earlier, the Raju brothers, Ramalinga and Rama, were shifted to the so-called Old Hospital block, where they are sharing a cell with a person accused in a prohibition and excise case.

Their cell is located close to the one housing Krushi Bank scamster Kosaraju Venkateswara Rao. They met and spoke for some time, sources said. Prisoners lined up to see the Rajus who spent most of the day in their cell.

The Rajus read newspapers in the morning and asked for books to read. They will get them on Monday. Jail officials said Mr Ramalinga Raju told them that he found the jail was "near".

According to the in-charge jail superintendent, Mr Newton, Mr Raju ate pulihora in the morning and rice, beans curry and curds for lunch afternoon and chicken for dinner.

They purchased some toiletries and spent the day in the same clothes as on Saturday. Doctors checked them twice during the day. Mr Rama Raju complained of joint paints and the doctor gave him medication