Indore: I-T dept traces Ludhiyani’s links with ex-Canadian businessman

The investigation wing of the income tax department is attempting to trace the links of Indore businessman Mohan Kumar Ludhiyani with a late Canadian businessman, Prasada, whose money was reportedly used to buy land and construct the ashram of tainted self-styled godman Asaram Bapu at Khandwa Road in Indore.

The investigation wing of the income tax department is attempting to trace the links of Indore businessman Mohan Kumar Ludhiyani with a late Canadian businessman, Prasada, whose money was reportedly used to buy land and construct the ashram of tainted self-styled godman Asaram Bapu at Khandwa Road in Indore.

Scribes and cameramen outside the house of businessman Mohan Kumar Ludhiyani in Indore. (Shankar Mourya/HT file photo)

Ludhiyani is said to be close to Asaram and used to manage his affairs in the city through a trust.

On September 9, the I-T department’s investigation wing from Surat had carried out searches at Ludhiyani’s local residential and business premises, which deal in liquor, real estate and tea-leaf packaging business. His companies, including Concorde Agro, Shruti Snacks, Digiana Real Estate Developers, Digiana Projects Ltd, Apollo Real Estate, Ghanshyam Das & Co were searched.

The teams confiscated a large volume of incriminating documents from Ludhiyani’s premises, including dossiers containing the names of Asaram’s son Narayan Sai and others associated with the Indore ashram.

Asaram, who frequently travelled overseas to draw rich Indian business into his fold, came into contact with the businessman, who was known by his surname Prasada, in Canada about a decade back. Prasada ran a successful insurance business and the Prasada couple even visited Asaram’s Indore ashram later, before their deaths.

According to sources, the couple’s two daughters, who live in Canada, challenged a will produced by the Asaram’s trust which claimed ownership of properties which Prasada had left for his daughters. Though the daughters won the case, the Canadian court’s proceedings contain testimony containing Ludhiyani’s confessional statements.

When contacted, the income tax department deputy director (investigation, Surat) Lalit Vishnoi declined to comment on the matter, saying, “I am not in a position to comment as investigations are still on.”

Meanwhile, the Surat team is expected to visit city this month to further interrogate Ludhiyani in connection along with the documentary evidence it has gathered.