The questioning of media baron and Eenadu group chairman Cherukuri Ramoji Rao by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) authorities of Andhra Pradesh police on Monday, in connection with the alleged irregularities in Margadarsi Chit Fund scam, for eight hours, has come under criticism from some quarters.
Some political groups even held a round-table meeting to condemn the CID interrogation of Ramoji Rao, who they said, was a renowned media man in the country and a Padma Vibhushan awardee.
They also found fault with the CID officials for subjecting Ramoji Rao to undue pressure, despite the fact that he was bedridden and was under treatment at his son’s house in Hyderabad.
But former Congress MP from Rajahmundry, Vundavalli Arun Kumar, defended the CID action in questioning Ramoji Rao as part of investigating into the financial irregularities in Margadarsi Chit Funds.
“Ramoji Rao might be a Padma Vibhushan awardee, but that doesn’t give him immunity from being questioned in a scam. Only Bharat Ratna awardees, the President of India, and Governors have such immunity power. If Ramoji Rao gets Bharat Ratna, nobody would question him, irrespective of his irregularities,” Vundavalli said.
The former MP compared Ramoji Rao with a fugitive economic offender, Vijay Mallya.
“Ramoji, too, committed a similar fraud like Mallya, who swindled thousands of crores. He may be a media baron, but he cannot be above the law,” he said.
Stating that there are all the evidences to prove that Margadarsi Chit Funds have violated all the chit fund rules, Vundavalli alleged that the company had diverted public deposits to other companies of its group.
“This is a crime as per the AP Chit Funds Act,” he said.
Referring to the claim of Ramoji Rao that he had returned money to two lakh subscribers, the ex-MP asked whether the media baron would be able to release the list of subscribers who had been paid the money.
“How can we believe his words? If he had really done it, I will take a bow before him,” he said.
Vundavalli, however, said his intention was not to send Ramoji Rao to jail, but only wished that he would pay at least Re 1 as fine for the irregularities.
“The world should know that he has committed a mistake. Even Lord Venkateshwara had to pay a fine of Rs 10 crore for violating the norms,” he added.