The question is being hotly discussed in the CBI after the first attempt to raid his residences and farmhouse was aborted on October 10. That the CBI failed to find anything more than floppies and some other documents during the raids seems to confirm the fears of officials who believe that the news of the raids had been leaked.
Top officials of the agency claim that the former minister was scheduled to leave the country on October 11 and had brought forward his visit by a day. Sources say the raids had been planned for October 10 since Sharma was supposed to leave a day later. The change in the programme, sources say, was a last minute decision following a tip off.
The reason for calling of the raids on Thursday, at a time when all the officers and men had gathered in the early hours of the morning, has not been confirmed.
The CBI is now concentrating on the work ahead. Notices have been served on former union
ministers Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav and Subodh Kant Sahay and Rajya Sabha member of Parliament Gyan Ranjan for examination.
The three are expected to appear before the special investigating team today.
The statements of Venugopal Dhoot of Video-con, Shashi Ruia of Essar and other captains of industry who were examined in connection with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MPs payoffs case, are being compared with those of the four Jharkhand leaders for corroboration.
Reporting to the Delhi High Court yesterday, special counsel for the Central Bureau of Investigation, Gopal Subramaniam told the bench that the charge sheet in this case will probably be filed by October 29.