No clear evidence of murder in Batcha case

Sadiq Batcha, who was found hanging at his residence on Wednesday, died of asphyxia. However, it is not clear if it was a case of homicide, according to the doctor who performed the autopsy.

The Supreme Court (SC), meanwhile, has agreed to hear the plea for a CBI probe in the matter.

Batcha, former telecom minister A Raja’s close aide, was managing director of Greenhouse Promoters and a key link to the 2G scam money trail.

“There were hanging marks on his neck. But we cannot say whether it was suicide or murder. This could be confirmed only through microscopic examination,” said Dr V Dekal, adding that the samples have been sent to the forensic laboratory.

In the Supreme Court, appearing for Centre for Public Interest Litigation, an NGO and one of the two original petitioners in the 2G scam, advocate Prashant Bhushan pleaded for a CBI probe into the death.

A bench of justices GS Singhvi and AK Ganguly said it would hear the application once it is filed.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has reserved its judgment on the pleas and the counter arguments on cancellation of spectrum licenses issued by Raja three years ago.