Court acquits Chandraswami in FERA violation

NEW DELHI: Controversial 'godman' Chandraswami, facing 10 FERA violation cases, was on Wednesday acquitted by a Delhi court in a case related to his alleged non-appearance before the Enforcement Directorate in 1999.
    
"Nemi Chand Jain (alias Chandraswami), I acquit you in the case," Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Rajender Kumar Shastri of Dwarka Courts said, adding that the ED has failed to prove the case "beyond reasonable doubt".
    
The case against the 'tantrik' was lodged in 1999 by Enforcement Directorate officer Balvinder Singh under section 56 of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) for "deliberately" not appearing before the ED to respond to allegations related to financial irregularities.
    
Besides this case, Chandraswami is facing prosecution in nine other FERA violation cases in which the ED has already slapped a fine of Rs 9.65 crore on him.
    
According to the complaint, the 'godman' was summoned almost 10 times in 1998 and 1999 to appear before ED investigators for responding to the allegations.
    
However, on pretext or the another, he did not appear before the ED which resulted in filing of a separate case against him.
    
"When summoned to appear on February 2 and October 28 in 1998, Chandraswami said he could not appear as he observed silence and fast on Thursdays," the complaint alleged, adding that on other occasions he cited his poor health as reasons for his non-appearance.
     
However, the ED alleged that he had earlier deposed in courts on Thursdays.
     
But, the ED could not substantiate its allegations during the trial which had commenced in September 2006 after the charges were framed against Chandraswami.