Chandraswamy helped in getting Rupin's body

Chandraswamy helped in getting Rupin's body
NEERJA CHOWDHURY

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 4: At the peak of the hijacking crisis, controversial godman Chandraswamy received a phone call. The Government wanted him to intervene in Dubai to enable Minister for Civil Aviation Sharad Yadav bring back the body of Rupin Katyal, who had been knifed to death by the hijackers.

In fact, it was the minister's idea to rope in the godman. In Dubai to escort back the women and children freed by the hijackers, Yadav was confronted with procedural delays over the body. The United Arab Emirates officials were dragging their feet and had said it would take another day to release the body.

Yadav knew that if he returned without the body, it could lead to an ugly situation in the surcharged atmosphere. Then an idea struck him. Why not speak to the tantrik who is known to have access to the first family of the UAE and reportedly also has financial interests in that country? He got in touch with an official who knows Chandraswamy, and this person called up swamiji, who promptlyobliged.

Yadav went to meet the Crown Prince of UAE and Rupin's body was released. The Crown Prince was, apparently, unhappy with the Indian Government. C M Ibrahim, when he was Minister for Civil Aviation in H D Deve Gowda's government, had promised to do something for him but hadn't delivered.

According to sources, Yadav's violation of protocol had ruffled feathers in the Indian mission. Ambassador K C Singh was reportedly taken aback and mumbled something about bringing the matter to the Prime Minister's attention. But the Minister brushed aside Singh's objections.