NEW DELHI: Controversial godman Chandraswamy had “blessed” Chief “Election Commissioner T.N, Seshan with sapphire set in a gold ring. The ring, according to Chandraswamy, was especially brought from Jaipur. Deposing for the third consecutive querying into the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. Chandraswamy became flustered when he was asked whether. he had presented airing to Mr. Seshan. He tried to take refuge in the ‘jyotish maryada’ (astrologers’ decorum), saying it would not be correct to comment. But then an exasperated Justice Jain said, “Just say yes or no. Don’t delay.” “Yes, I did give him a ring as my blessings,” said Chandraswamy. This prompted the counsel to ask him the metal, stone and price of the ring. What was the price? Six or seven lakhs?” quizzed the counsel, Justice Jain to0 joined in, How much was it roughly?
A pause. And then reluctantly Chandraswamy said that was sapphire sect in a gold ring. “The ring came from Jaipur, I’ll ask the price and let you know,” he added.
The Jain Commission, in the meantime, gave the Central Government a weeks’ time to produce all the information on Chrandraswamy’s acuities. This followed a plea by the counsel for Central Government, B. Dutta, who said that the government needed a week’s time as various agencies
were coordinating in this task. He looked blank when Justice Jain repeatedly asked by him, whether he ‘was ever arrested, particularly in 1972 in a cheating and forgery case. He ‘stated Oct.10th that he was arrested but the case was a false and fabricated one and he was finally acquitted. Referring to his frequent bouts of amnesia he said he was willing to do prayashchit” (penance). Here Justice Jain shot back, “it is up to you whether you do penance or fast ‘unto death. All that I am concerned is that you have to tell the truth.”
Article extracted from this publication >> October 13, 1995
