"The Swami Used To Give Us Money"

THE various people accused in the hawala and the Bombay blasts cases have made sensational allegations against top politicians in the course of their interrogation by the investigating agencies. Only a few of these have been conclusively proved. But nevertheless, the charges can provide vital leads. Outlook met Virendra Pant, a close associate of Dawood's right-hand man Babloo Srivastav, and an accused in the murder of the Delhi businessman, Lalit Suneja. Pant, who was arrested and interrogated by the CBI and is currently in Tihar Jail, spoke about Chandraswami's activities and the goings-on in his Delhi ashram. Excerpts:

What did the CBI ask you?

The CBI wanted to know the names of visitors to the ashram. Who were the politicians who came there; where was the money coming from; where was it going. I told them I have seen Chautala, Devi Lal, Subramanian Swamy, Barnala, J.K. Jain and the hawala racketeer S.K. Jain in the ashram between 1990 and 1992.

What activities of Chandraswami came to your notice?

In 1992-93, Chandraswami along with Dawood Ibrahim planned to eliminate his (Dawood's) rival Arun Gawli. Babloo Srivastav was contacted for this.

On another occasion, Chandraswami asked Dawood to invest around $40 million. The Sultan of Brunei was also supposed to invest in the project. They were planning to invest in a big way in some project in Bangalore. Vijay Mallya, chairman of the United Breweries group, was also willing to invest.

What about the Suneja murder in which you are one of the accused?

Nitin Shah, a Bombay-based businessman, used to come to the ashram. Yeh murder Nitin Shah ke kahne par hi hua (This murder was committed at the instance of Nitin Shah). Shah had dealings with Chandra-swami. He was in the ashram on August 2, 1992—the day of the murder.

What do you know about the Bombay blasts?

Just after the blasts, Yakub Memon's family went to Kathmandu where Mirza Dilshad Beg (a Nepali MP involved in the Arora murder conspiracy) helped arrange their passports and send them to Dubai. Calls were made by Beg to Chandraswami's ashram from there.... I was staying with Beg in the Chakrapath area of Kathmandu.

How is Beg linked to Dawood?

Gold smuggling takes place through Nepal, and Beg and Tahir alias Tappu, another accused in the L.D. Arora murder, are involved in the gold smuggling. Dawood financed the operations. There were others who were paid off by him and these included the IG of police and some DIGS.

How and when did you come into contact with Chandraswami?

I first came in contact with Chandras-wami at his ashram in 1987. We used to enjoy his hospitality. He used to give us his car and money depending on our needs. Sometime in 1990, Srivastav was assigned to silence a journalist for writing against Chandraswami. At first the plan was to kidnap and torture him. But later it was decided to plant a bomb in his car and inform the police and get him arrested.

But no action was taken against Chandraswami.

Because the CBI Director, Vijaya Rama Rao, is his friend. Chandraswami's nephew Sunil told us that Swamiji was going to get his disciple Rao posted from Hyderabad to the CBI. I have seen him (Rao) in the ashram in 1992.

Why did you fall out with Chandraswami?

Vikram ke chakkar mein (because of Vikram—Chandraswami's right-hand man now). He started controlling finances. We wanted help in the Suneja murder case but Chandraswami refused. Then we threatened him (Chandras-wami) from Bombay over the phone. We said we will shoot you dead.