Ramdev's aide skips CBI questioning

Yoga guru Ramdev's aide Balkrishna on Thursday 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.

Yoga guru Ramdev's aide Balkrishna on Thursday 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.

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Balkrishna, who appeared before the CBI on Wednesday 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".