Dehradun, Aug 4: Yoga guru Ramdev's aide Balkrishna today did not turn up before the CBI for questioning, saying he had to collect his passport to submit it to the Uttarakhand High Court, and later took time off to participate in his birthday function in Haridwar.
Balkrishna, who appeared before the CBI here yesterday in connection with charges of using fake educational degrees for procuring a passport, sent a fax communication to agency officials here saying he has to travel to Nainital to deposit his travel document with the office of registrar general tomorrow in compliance with a High Court order and was busy trying to collect it, CBI sources said.
He had earlier claimed he had deposited his passport with the British High Commission to get a visa.
However, Balkrishna, later participated in ‘Rigved yagna' and several functions organised on the occasion of his 40th birthday at Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar, 29 kms from here, yogpeeth sources said.
Prominent sadhus and seers, who are generally seen in ceremonies at the yogpeeth, did not attend the functions.
Saplings of medicinal plants were also distributed among the people of the area on the occasion of birthday of Balkrishna, which was observed as “Jari-Booti Diwas”.
Balkrishna had yesterday skirted key queries posed by the CBI in connection with a case of allegedly using fake educational degrees for procuring the passport.
According to CBI sources, Balkrishna was evasive on vital questions relating to the case, prompting the agency to summon him again today. He was also asked to bring documents containing details of his antecedents.
Balkrishna appeared before the CBI in compliance with an order of the Uttarakhand High Court order which had stayed his arrest till August 29 but directed him to appear before the CBI.
While staying the arrest of Balkrishna, the state high court had on July 29 asked him to co-operate with the CBI in the investigations. PTI
