NEW DELHI: Chandraswami, known for his most powerful links in New Delhi’s corridors of power and overseas, is understood to have landed himself and his VVIP patrons into an awfully tricky and embarrassing situation.
He is, for once, the subject of “a thorough probe” ordered by the Government of India following the allegation of cheating to the tune of millions of dollars by an NRI.
This will, be the first time in recent years that India’s most feared ‘godman’ would come under close scrutiny of the country’s investigation agencies. No one date touch him the rich and powerful cannot get away with the help of good advocates,” he said in reply to points raised by the committee on the legal system.
Chavan said that the government is seriously considering steps to curb the tendency to create law and order problem in the name of religion or caste by persons violating their solemn oath under the Constitution. Preferring not to name political parties or organizations, the Home Minister said that people who take oath under the Constitution and then violate them with impunity had to be dealt with sternly. Responding to demands for setting up a parliamentary committee on the pattern of the Senate Intelligence committee in the United States, Chavan said he would consult the Speaker on the issue and his guidance would be binding on the government.
He also appealed to political parties not to give election ticket to any candidate having a criminal record and not to support him directly or indirectly. because of his known proximity to Me celebrated resident at S Race Course Road and other wielders of power in the Capital. He once boasted that he could call on the Prime Minister when-ever he wished. As many as 18 Central ministers pay him obeisance and are said to be at his beck and call. He is among the select few whose car could straightway enter the Prime Minister’s residence. He I scredited to have helped the authorities in a number of sensitive deals abroad. His connections with the Sultan of Brunei and the internationally renowned arms merchant, Adnan Khashoggi, arc widely known. The complaint of cheating is within the knowledge of the authorities in Thailand. The Indian Embassy in Bangkok too knows about it. The government moved in the matter despite “initial hesitation” when the Minister of State for Internal Security received a copy of the com-plaint of harassment and intimidation from the Bangkok-based NRI, Somehar Chawla. Chandraswarni has been a frequent visitor to Bangkok. Chawla has reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding for housing projects in Bangalore. The government got quickly into the as when a Bangkok-based NRI filed a written complaint alleging that the jet-set Swami had taken him for a ride on the promise of extracting contracts and business deals for him. Big amounts changed hands for this purpose. Interestingly, knowledge sources suggest that the man behind the “prompt action” is none other than the Minister of State for Internal Security, Rajesh Pilot. He promptly deputed a senior officer in the Union Home Ministry to go into the whole gamut of the allegation. “It is more than a routine check. It’s a thorough investigation, covering all facets of Chandraswami’s operations at home and abroad. We may take the help of various agencies to get at the basic facts, a sources confided.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 1, 1995
