NEW DELHI, August 13: The Enforcement Directorate today informed the Delhi High Court that investigations into 11 cases of FERA violations against self-styled godman Chandraswami were at a crucial stage.

Madan Lokur, counsel for the Directorate said any relaxation of bail conditions at this juncture would make it difficult to secure presence of Chandraswami who was directed earlier by the high court to report to the ED office here every fortnight.

Counsel for the accused, K K Manan, told the Court that in the last three months though Chandraswami had reported to ED religiously as per directions of the Court, it had not questioned him even once in connection with FERA cases.

Manan requested the court to permit the accused to leave Delhi after furnishing details of his destination and stay as against the present condition that he should secure prior permission of the ED before leaving the capital.

The Court adjourned the matter for two months to observe the ED probe's progress and would now come up for hearing on October 14.

Chandraswami had been granted bail in the FERA cases by the High Court after he spent 39 days in judicial custody while being lodged in high security Tihar jail.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.