Controversial godman Chandraswami is dead

NEW DELHI: Controversial godman Chandraswami — said to be a close friend of then Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao and allegedly involved in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi — died in New Delhi on Tuesday. Chandraswami, who had suffered a stroke, died at the Apollo Hospital at the age of 66. “Jagadacharya Chandraswami ji, 66 years old, had been ailing for some time. He recently suffered a stroke and later developed multi-organ failure,” a hospital statement said.

Controversial godman Chandraswami died here on Tuesday at the age of 66.

Chandraswami, who had suffered a stroke, passed away at the Apollo Hospital at 2.56pm.

“Spiritual leader Jagadacharya Chandraswami ji, 66 years old, had been ailing for some time. He recently suffered a stroke and later developed multiorgan failure,” a hospital statement said. Chandraswami, whose actual name was Nemi Chand, shot to fame as an astrologer. He wielded enormous power during the regime of then Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao. He was seen as one of Rao’s trusted aides and advisers.

Often mired in controversy, his name cropped up in investigations into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.