Bengaluru/Amaravati: Former Union Minister and TDP Rajya Sabha MP Sujana Chowdary failed to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in response to summons issued by the agency. Sujana Chowdhary was asked to report to the Bangalore office of the CBI for questioning in a case related to Best Crompton Engineering Projects Ltd., (BCEPL), which had allegedly cheated Andhra Bank to the extent of Rs. 71 Crores. The bank lodged a complaint to this effect in 2017.

Sujana Chowdhary reached Bangalore on Friday after receiving the notices and was supposed to report for questioning at 4 PM. However, he is learnt to have gone into a huddle with his close associates and lawyers, according to reliable sources. Later, the TDP MP is learnt to have communicated through his lawyers to the investigating agency complaining of ill-health and sought exemption from appearing before it. With the CBI not responding either way to his request, Sujana Chowdhary, it is learnt, chose not to appear before the agency.

It is also being speculated that Sujana Chowdary did not appear before the CBI to avoid getting arrested late on Friday as Saturday and Sunday are holidays and he would not be able to get bail. Others in the case including managing director of the firm Srinivas Kalyan, also failed to appear before the CBI.

The Central Bureau Of Investigation claims it has rock-solid evidence against Sujana Chowdary in this case as well as other cases, wherein he reportedly defrauded various banks. The CBI is investigating as to how the funds were routed through shell companies. The authorities had seized rubber stamps and seals of 124 shell companies in raids on Sujana Chowdary's head office in Hyderabad.

Also Read: CBI Summons Sujana Chowdary in Bank Fraud Case