The Delhi High Court on Monday grounded 'Godman' Chandraswami's plans to go abroad by staying a lower court's order allowing him to visit his disciples overseas.

Justice V B Gupta passed the order on a petition filed by the Centre challenging the lower court's December 13 order in which it had allowed Chandraswami, facing trial in ten Foreign Exchange Regulation Act violation cases, to go abroad.

The court, however, refused to hear the matter further after allegations by the tantrik's counsel P N Lekhi expressing apprehension of not getting justice from the present bench. In view of the Lekhi's plea, the court transferred the matter to another bench.

Earlier, additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra opposed Chandraswami's foreign trip plans and said he was facing 10 cases under FERA violation, in which adjudication was going on.

"Our apprehension is that once he goes abroad he will not return to face the trial," Malhotra said.

Earlier, the lower court, while allowing him to go abroad, had directed that he could remain out of the country for 30 days only.

The court had said that he would have to attend the proceedings in the FERA violation cases, in which he allegedly owed over Rs 9.65 crore as penalty to the Enforcement Directorate.