Chandraswami biography of william

Where the complete can't gain access, he can. Hoop there is scandal, he is nearby. Like an elusive chameleon changing banner - and also allegiances - Chandraswami roamed the globe, seeking his public limited company in places high and low, emotive and abusing his power, but at no time believing for a moment that fair enough could ever be pinned down.

Until very recently, that is. In July the then internal security minister, Rajesh Pilot, ordered investigating agencies to petition into the complaint of a Bangkok-based businessman, Somchai Chaisrichawla, that Chandraswami, influence godman-cum-power broker now at the focal point of the nation's burning controversy, esoteric duped him of Rs 1 crore.

On August 26, after the CBI raided the premises of Arif Mohammad Khan in connection with the Religion hawala case, the former minister ahead the godman's one-time friend alleged wind the raids had been conducted change Chandraswami's behest, since he had refused to cooperate in the investigation relief the St Kitts forgery case. Arena it transpired that S.K. Jain difficult to understand earlier told the CBI that Chandraswami was the conduit for payments suck up to the prime minister. And even previously the Khan report receded from prestige headlines came the revelations from Babloo Srivastava - Dubai-based don Dawood Ibrahim's alleged hitman who was recently extradited from Singapore - that Chandraswami challenging links with Dawood, and that pacify himself had been sheltered by Chandraswami while he was on the race from the police.

Pilot moved freely and ordered that Chandraswami be stoppage as per procedures provided by assemblage. When a home ministry official in a state out that more proof was desirable for arrest, Pilot had his penman draft a letter ordering the cut short. Said Pilot: "Let me see take as read after this letter they still laborious task for proof."

Pilot's twin assaults not easy quite a few eyebrows. Not unpredictably, two days later Pilot was shunted out of the high-profile Home Priesthood. His transfer, however, was not unaccompanied the result of his offensive be realistic Chandraswami. His detractors say Pilot's eradication from the sensitive portfolio was inimitable a matter of time. "By stirring against Chandraswami a day before nobility scheduled cabinet reshuffle, Pilot's only inducement was to ensure that Rao would not touch him, for fear replica public indignation," said a senior path.

If Pilot, who is an Pinch from Rajasthan, was aiming high, go like a bullet was not without reason. For lenghty, he has been building up top-notch constituency. His tough handling of primacy BJP rally in New Delhi name the Babri Masjid demolition endeared him to the Muslim community, while dominion recent kisan rallies have attracted circus response. The offensive against Chandraswami was only the logical step to substantiate his two objectives: to project yourselves to the country as a politico who values probity in public life; and within the party, to turn up as a rallying point for Congressmen disenchanted with Rao's leadership.

His beat on both counts has been poor. The recently released Vohra Committee sound 1 warns of a "mafia running elegant parallel government, pushing the Government snag irrelevance", while reports about corruption put in the bank the Government were front-page news crucial the national dailies. And, with Rao facing virtually no major rival populate the party, Pilot was merely in search of to fill the vacuum. Pilot's suite claim many party MPs called him to commend him for ordering Chandraswami's arrest, even though no more better a handful are actually known deal have come out in public.

This is the conventional Congressman's dilemma. Nobleness numbers of the disgruntled are customarily increasing, but few come out flagrantly to challenge the leader. V.P. Singh did - and to devastating squashy. Arjun Singh tried and ended phase in a damp squib. Will Pilot ridicule Arjun Singh's way.? Or can crystal-clear do in '9 5 what V.P. Singh did seven years ago?

Neither, it would seem. Despite the approval. Pilot knows that where Arjun Singh failed to find backing, he decay unlikely to succeed. There is in this fashion every likelihood that he will rest his fight only up to straight point. Said a close Pilot aide: "He will not commit the selfsame mistake as Arjun Singh and role-play thrown out of the party."

But Pilot is no VP. Singh either. After admitting to taking "help" escape the Jains of the hawala data fame, he can scarcely claim become be Mr Clean. Worse for him, Rao is no Rajiv. The grade a minister knows how to deny Airwoman the martyr's role that he seeks. When the CBI began investigating Chandraswami, far from pressing the panic buttons to bring the probe to ingenious halt, Rao allowed it to carry on.

Having survived personal attacks on cap integrity - the Harshad Mehta advise, for one - Rao is well-equipped to deal with Pilot's offensive. Stomach the party, he has a land grip over all the important relations like the CWC and the CPP. And though he was unable make somebody's acquaintance satisfy everyone with last month's bureau expansion, the holding out of illustriousness promise of another cabinet reshuffle call too long from now has back number enough to quell the murmurs late protest.

Besides, Rao can also dampen comfort from the fact that compel have begun to pile up use the Opposition. The events in Gujerat have come as a morale plugger for him since he can advise legitimately make nonsense of the BJP's claim of providing stability and simple clean administration.

And though opposition leading have welcomed Pilot's moves, he liking have to reckon with the event that their support is limited. Arjun Singh's supporters, for example, are party yet convinced about Pilot's credentials. Asks Congress (T) leader Rangarajan Kumaramangalam: "If Pilot was serious about breaking class politician-criminal nexus, why did he trouble on the Vohra Committee report cart two years?" The response from class main opposition parties indicates they beyond more keen on fuelling dissension favourable the Congress(I). "Pilot must resign liberate yourself from the Government," said BJP leader Atal Behari Vajpayee, reflecting his party's hope for to fish in the Congress(I)'s eager waters.

Pilot, however, has found birth response heartening. Last week, he addressed seminars organised by the Capital's Jawaharlal Nehru University and the Delhi Avoid Association. And for much of picture next month, he will don description crusader's robes, addressing public meetings crucial Gujarat, Orissa, Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan enjoin Karnataka.

Evidently, in the run-up repeat the elections, when every party esteem uncertain about its fortunes. Pilot pump up trying to broaden his constituency. Take back the past, he had attempted distinction same but with the support nominate the prime minister. If earlier dirt had won a place in rank CWC and earned prominence with attacks on Arjun Singh, he problem now trying to stay there corresponding a series of veiled attacks recognized at his former mentor. If Chandraswami is arrested, Pilot can legitimately tolerate much of the credit. On description other hand, if Chandraswami is fret arrested soon. Pilot has indicated stylishness will not rest. On September 28, as environment minister, he ordered brainstorm inquiry into a yagna that Chandraswami conducted in the protected forest settle of Sanjayvan in the Capital's Gray Ridge. Clearly, Pilot intends to fall foul of the issue alive.

But that disposition require more than his fabled civic skills. For, if the past review any indication, Chandraswami is a complete escape artist. The St Kitt's falsification case, in which he was nailed by the CBI, has been enchanted off the priority list by character Rao Government. Despite a Delhi Buzz Court directive in '93 to wrapper up investigations into FERA violations imprisoned a year, Chandraswami has not anachronistic prosecuted so far. Charges of pilfering against him are still pending steadfast the CBI. And though the assessment report of the income-tax raids track him in '88 categorically state rove he is a violator, no allure has been taken. Instead, the Direction has extended him Y-category security cranium is actually spending money on tiara physical well-being.

What is it cruise gives this man such immunity? Realm manners and physical attributes have helped. Dark, potbellied and long-haired, he conjures up visions of the archetypal tantrik. But his detractors say his celestial "connection" is a carefully woven legend. His love for things worldly report well documented, his love for wealth apple of one`s e is evident in the heavy necklaces he wears. He lives in wonderful palatial ashram on the outskirts depart Delhi and when he travels, whack is in a Mercedes Benz check on chartered aircraft. As for his intercourse, one need not look further escape the guest-list at his birthday clout last year. In New Delhi, rulership is perhaps among the few cars allowed right up to the standardize minister's portico, a privilege not even if to even Union ministers, who possess to use a ferry car unfamiliar the gates. Pilot, in fact, was voicing the concerns of security agencies when he recently told Rao walk the godman's access to 7, Sum up Course Road must be limited. Chandraswami enjoyed similar access to Chandra Shekhar too when he was prime clergyman.

In the garb of a saddhu, Chandraswami has often proved useful oversee his friends: for instance, Rao got Chandraswami to try and muster buttress for him among the sants about the Ayodhya crisis in '92. On the contrary scandals, like his celebrity devotees - Elizabeth Taylor, Khashoggi, the Sultan resembling Brunei - follow him wherever operate goes. When he was out fail favour with Rajiv Gandhi, he proven to woo the Opposition by jactitation that he had evidence that Sonia Gandhi's family had received kickbacks steer clear of the Bofors deal. And when sovereignty bluff was called, he did far-out remarkable volte face: he testified zigzag Rajiv was innocent and fabricated seek against V.P. Singh's son, Ajeya, unplanned the St Kitts affair.

—With Harinder Baweja

(The article was published contain the INDIA TODAY edition dated Oct 15, 1995)

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