The Central Bureau of Investigation has told a Delhi court that it is investigating the suspected role of self-styled godman Chandraswami in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

The CBI said this while opposing an application by Chandraswami, who faces a case of Foreign Exchange Regulation Act violation, seeking permission to travel abroad.

"One of the allegations under investigation is that Chandraswami had financed the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi," CBI Superintendent of Police B N Mishra told Metropolitan Magistrate V K Khanna, quoting from the Jain Commission of Inquiry report.

"Evidence and material do point an accusing finger towards Chandraswami...and raise a serious doubt regarding his involvement in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi," he said.

Mishra is the chief investigating officer of the Multi Disciplinary Monitoring Agency constituted in December 1998 to further probe the assassination. It is also probing the role of Nemi Chand Jain alias Chandraswami in the assassination.

Chandraswami had sought the court's permission to go abroad for two-months to deliver 'spiritual discourse'.
The matter will now come up for hearing on December 13.

Former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a human bomb at Sriperumbadur near Chennai on May 21, 1991. Seventeen other persons were also killed in the explosion, which left 44 persons seriously injured.

Mishra told the court that 23 Letters Rogatory had been sent to various countries to learn about the activities of Chandraswami. Details of his financial transactions and that of others allegedly involved in the case have also been sought, he said.

While only five countries have so far responded, the responses from the remaining 18 were awaited, Mishra said.
The investigation is still continuing and on receipt of the responses to the Letters Rogatory, further investigation, including the examination of Chandraswami, will have to be taken up, Mishra said in his written submission before the court.

Chandraswami's application was also opposed by the Enforcement Directorate, which accused him of involvement in "serious economic offences".

The self-styled godman was recently acquitted in the Lakhubhai Pathak cheating case and the St Kitts forgery case.

Onkar Singh reports from New Delhi

Chandraswami has denied any involvement in Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. "The claim that I am connected to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam is ridiculous," Chandraswami told rediff.com.