NEW DELHI: The Rao Government has sanctioned the prosecution of Chandraswamy and his aide Kailash Nath Agarwal alias Mamaji in the Lakhobhai Pathak case.

‘The Government gave the go-ahead to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) last week to proceed against the god man in a case of cheating a London based NRI, Lakhobhai Pathak.

To the tune of $1 lakh in a newsprint deal.

‘The government’s sanction, however, had not been received by the CBI, the prosecuting agency till last week, sources said.

Although the FIR against Chandraswamy had been registered in 1988 and he had obtained an anticipatory bail as well, the CBI filed a charge sheet only on April 12 this year, The CBI submitted documents and list of witnesses in the said case in the court of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Delhi and the case will come up for hearing now as the sanction has come from the Government.

The permission of the Government is mandatory in cases where the complainant is an NRI. The Union Home Ministry, the sanctioning authority in such cases, invariably consults the Law Ministry and Department of Personnel. The Supreme Court is regularly monitoring progress in various cases registered against Chandraswamy and the next date of hearing is April 26.

The CBI had informed the Apex Court two months ago that there is no evidence to substantiate allegations made by Babloo Srivastava against Chandraswamy; however, it told the court that charge sheet in the Lakhobhai Pathak case has been filed while investigations are going on in the St Kitt’s case. ‘The CBI is also investigating another case of cheating and harassment against Chandraswamy on the complaint of the Bangkok based NRI, Somchai Chawala, Union Minister of State for Environment Rajesh Pilot had demanded Chandraswamy’s arrest in this case, But no action has been taken as yet. Meanwhile, Chandraswami said the directorate of enforcement that he never deposited 6,000 sterling pounds in an UK court with regard to a defamation case against businessman, Lakhobhai Pathak. Counsel for Chandraswami, Ashok Arora, who appeared before special director, enforcement, A.P, Kala, submitted that the 6,000 sterling pounds was deposited by Chandraswami’s disciple and international arms dealer, Adnan Khashoggi. Arora said Khashoggi had already filed an affidavit in which he stated that the money was to be deposited by Chandraswami’s counsel in UK, Steven Martin Bale.

Khashoggi, in his affidavit said that he never consulted Chandraswami in this issue as the amount was very small. Earlier, the Janata Dal last week accused the government of protecting the controversial Chandraswami, saying “as long as P.V. Narasimha Rao is Prime Minister, Chandraswami will continue to be above the CBI.”

Article extracted from this publication >>May 1, 1996