Indian-American fundraiser under U.S. scanner
Thursday, 14 April 2011, 17:20 IST
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Chicago: A federal grand jury has subpoenaed dozens of doctors in the Chicago area as part of a probe into a wealthy Indian-American fundraiser with ties to former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, according to a media report. While the Federal Bureau of Investigation ( FBI ) and Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ) investigation is centred on businessman and political fund-raiser Raghuveer Nayak, the feds have cast a wide net, Chicago Sun-Times reported citing unnamed sources. Nayak owns surgical centres in Illinois and Indiana owns and has ties to besides Blagojevich, impeached for allegedly trying to sell President Barack Obama's senate seat, and Jesse Jackson Jr , a member of U.S. House of Representatives. Sun-Times citring sources said at least 30 doctors received grand jury subpoenas, and more than 10 of Nayak's employees have also been subpoenaed. Federal authorities are investigating whether Nayak made improper payments to the doctors in order to draw their surgeries to his centres. Nayak, a longtime friend of the Jackson political family, told investigators after Blagojevich's 2008 arrest that congressman Jackson asked him during a visit to Washington DC to approach the then-governor with a $6 million offer of campaign money in exchange for a Senate seat appointment. Blagojevich faces retrial next week regarding the alleged Senate seat sale, among other charges. Jesse Jackson Jr. has not been charged with wrongdoing and staunchly denied Nayak's allegations. Surgery centres linked to Nayak contributed more than $283,000 to Illinois politicians between 2001 and 2007, including $174,500 to impeached Blagojevich during that period, state campaign records show.
Source: IANS
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