Sadiq Batcha, aide of former Telecom Minister A. Raja, committed suicide by hanging at his residence here on Wednesday, police said. He left behind a suicide note, which said the media's coverage of the 2G spectrum allocation scam had maligned his image in society, the police claimed.
The death evoked statements expressing suspicion over its probable cause from political parties, and the Tamil Nadu government announced that the case would be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Mr. Batcha (38), Managing Director of city-based export firm Green House Promoters, was under the CBI scanner for his suspected links with those involved in the 2G case and was questioned by the agency on February 22 in Delhi. Earlier, his residence here was searched.
At 12.45 p.m., Mr. Batcha was found hanging by a rope normally used for the cradle of his younger child in the bedroom, police sources said.
His family members rushed him to Apollo Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival. The body was taken to the Government Royapettah Hospital for post-mortem, which is scheduled for Thursday morning.
According to the First Information Report registered at the Teynampet police station after a complaint was lodged by Mr. Batcha's wife Reha Banu, Ms. Banu went to pick up her elder child from school at 10.45 a.m. and returned soon. Around 12.45 p.m., she went to the first floor and knocked on the bedroom door to call Mr. Batcha for lunch. But he didn't respond. Drivers and helpers at the house broke open the door and found him hanging, the report said.
Reliable police sources said Ms. Banu and her children were heading to their native village after the death, but were called back by the police.
A case of death under suspicious circumstances under Section 174 of the Cr.PC has been registered.
