Rao and Chandra Swami fooled me: Lakhubhai Pathak

Syed Firdaus Ashraf in Bombay

"For God sake, don't ask me any questions about Narasimha Rao," says Lakhubhai Pathak, the UK-based, non-resident Indian who filed the complaint against Chandra Swami that has now entangled former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao in its web.

"I met Rao only once with Chandra Swami. When I entered the room after waiting for more than three hours. I saw that Rao and Chandra Swami had just finished eating. After that Rao approached me and said, "Lakhubhai, your work will be done. Do not worry. This was the only conversation which took place between me and Rao. And this was my first and last meeting with Rao," he told Rediff On The NeTat his daughter's apartment in suburban Bombay.

Asked about Rao's integrity, he said, "I don't know whether Rao is honest or not. I have left it up to the courts. I have great faith in Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Prem Kumar and my God. Mr Kumar is an angel. I feel I will be given justice."

Asked why he did not mention Rao's name for 13 years, Pathak parried the question, saying, "It took the Pandavas 13 years in vanvas (exile) and 14 years of vanvas for Ram. I feel that I was in vanvas for these 13 years,"

Pathak, who was assured of a Government of India contract for supply of newsprint and paper pulp, claims he was duped by Chandra Swami and his secretary Kailash Nath Aggarwal, though he paid the alleged tantrik $ 100,000.

Repeating his claim that he would not strike any compromise, Pathak said, "Never in my life have I been fooled in business. Rao and Chandra Swami have fooled me of my hard earned money. I have lost more than $ 100,000. My wife yelled at me all these 13 years for dealing with Rao and Chandra Swami. I have seen people becoming paupers in business. But I feel it is all up to God. God helps every individual. I have a strong feeling that Jo karam karoge woh yehi bharna padega (every human being has to repay his debts in his own lifetime.)"

Born on March 19, 1925 at Junagadh, Gujarat, Pathak left India in his early twenties for Kenya to do business. He then went on to London to do business.

He met Chandra Swami for the first time, on July 9, 1983. A friend's son introduced him. "I used to believe in sadhus, before meeting Chandra Swami. But, due to this idiot swami I have lost faith in all sadhus. Chandra Swami has ruined the reputation of all saints and sadhus of India."

He denied the allegation that he is a supporter of the Bharatiya Janata Party. "I have never met any of their leaders. How can you level these allegations against me?"

Pathak fears that his case may be weakened if he goes back to London. "Once I go back to London, it will be difficult for me to come back to India soon. I have decided that I will be in India till the case is decided."

He denied reports that the CBI is pressurising him to leave India. "There is no such move," he said.