Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, July 4: Chitra Athwani, a Mumbai-based air hostess who has been summoned by the Commissionerate Police to depose before it in connection with the arrest of Deccan Chronicle Holdings vice-chairman PK Iyer, has sent a letter along with a few medical documents to the Nayapalli police saying she cannot come to the city for questioning as she is unwell.
“Athwani has sent a letter along with medical documents saying she is undergoing treatment for spinal problems at a Ranchi hospital,” Nayapalli police inspector in-charge Suryamani Pradhan said.
“Athwani has, however, not said when she can come here for questioning,” Pradhan added.
Sources said a police official is likely to be sent to her residence in Bihar for interrogating her.
Fearing arrest, Athwani had applied for anticipatory bail in the High Court last month. Athwani’s lawyer Partha Mukherjee applied for anticipatory bail in the HC June 25, sources said.
Since there are some cases pending in the High Court, the hearing of Athwani’s case might take some time, it is learnt.
Iyer was arrested from a star hotel in Nayapalli area June 6.
“As Athwani has so far ignored earlier summons, we decided to issue fresh summons. The investigating officer will send her summons under Section 160 of CrPC. She is being summoned as a witness in the case and if she fails to appear this time we will register a non-bailable warrant against her,” twin city police commissioner RP Sharma said.
Earlier, police issued summons to Athwani after finding that Iyer, who was wanted by the CBI for alleged bank loan fraud, was staying in a room in the hotel booked in her name. Police sent the summons to Athwani at her Darbhanga address in Bihar.
“We have already recorded statements of the hotel authorities who allowed Iyer to stay in the name of Athwani. Therefore, it is essential from the investigation’s point of view to also record Athwani’s statement,” deputy commissioner of police Satyabrata Bhoi said.
Preliminary investigation showed Iyer had first arrived at the hotel with Athwani at 2 am February 14.
They stayed together for 10 days before Chitra left. Iyer, however, booked a room in the same hotel in her name and continued to stay there till he was arrested by Commissionerate Police.