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Yoga guru Ramdev's aide Balkrishna on Thursday sought 20 days time to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation for questioning in a case under the Passport Act, claiming he has applied for a United Kingdom visa and his travel document is with that mission.
The agency, however, rejected his plea and asked him to appear without the passport on Friday for questioning, CBI sources said. The CBI had asked him to present himself for questioning on Thursday but sources in the agency said Balkrishna sent a fax in the morning, saying his passport was with the British High Commission for visa purposes and a reply from there was expected after about 20 days.
In his fax, Balkrishna said he was also consulting Supreme Court lawyer Ram Jethmalani and pleaded that any other date after 20 days may be given to him. He said he came to know about the CBI notice, which was pasted on the ashram gate, on Wednesday. The CBI has, however, rejected his plea.
Meanwhile, sources said Balkrishna is likely to move to Uttarakhand high court to seek anticipatory bail. The CBI has earlier issued a look-out notice against Balkrishna after registering a case against him under section 420 (cheating) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code for procuring fake degree and for violating section 12 of the Indian Passport Act (knowingly furnishing false documents for getting passport).