HC bursts Chandraswami's bubble; stays lower court order

New Delhi, Dec 18 (UNI) Delhi High Court stayed yesterday the lower court order permitting controversial godman Chandraswami to go abroad.

Chandraswami, who was to visit disciples overseas had about ten cases for alleged violations of Foreign Exchange Regulation Act against him, Hearing a petition by the Centre challenging the lower court's permission to Chandraswami, Justice V B Gupta stayed the order.

However, senior counsel P N Lekhi appearing for the godmen wondered if the present bench would ever do justice to Chandraswami.

Peeved at this, Justice Gupta stopped hearing the case further and transferred it to the another bench.

Earlier, Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra opposed Chandraswami's foreign trip plans, saying they apprehended that once, he goes abroad he will not return to face the trial.

The lower court had permitted Chandraswami to go abroad for 30 days but with a note that he would have to attend the proceedings in the FERA violation cases, in which he allegedly owed over Rs 9.65 crore as penalty to the Enforcement Directorate.

UNI