New Delhi: The Supreme Court today rejected
a petition of self-styled godman Chandraswami challenging the
order of the Delhi High court which had directed him to
deposit Rs 10 lakhs for allowing him to go abroad.
Chandraswami had requested the court to exempt him from
depositing the amount and contended that instead of the money,
he should be allowed to furnish a bank guarantee of the same
amount.
A vacation bench of Justices R M Lodha and A K Patnaik
dismissed the petition.
During the proceedings, the counsel appearing for the
godman contended that all his cases relating to Lakhubhai
Pathak and St Kitts are very old and are now dead and he
should be exempted from meeting such conditions.
To this, the apex court said "they (cases) are still
pending and cases are still going on."
The court said "if you are asked to deposit twice, then
there is a case ... but if they are asking you only to
deposit, then there is nothing. Even if you have to deposit
some extra, then it can be adjusted later."
In 2009, the apex court had allowed Chandraswami to
travel abroad after depositing the same amount with the trial
court.
Later, he withdrew the amount and again sought permission
to travel. Following it, the court again directed the godman
to deposit money, which was challenged by him before the Apex
court.
-PTI
