New Delhi, Feb 8 (IANS) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a report from the Kerala government following a complaint by a businessman that he and his associates were “illegally detained” at the behest of NRI hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal, being awarded the Padma Bhushan this year.
“We have sought a report from the state government recently to ascertain the facts. Once we get the report, we will decide on the next course of action,” a senior NHRC official told IANS.

“We hope to get the report soon.”

The complaint by Jagdish Khandelwal was filed before the NHRC and Kerala police. It relates to Chatwal’s gala inauguration of Dream Hotel in Kochi in April 2009. T.K.A Nair, principal secretary to the prime minister, was also present on the occasion.

In his representation, Khandelwal alleged that he and his associates were pulled out of bed after they had retired to their hotel rooms following the grand opening. They were then taken to the police station where they were illegally detained.

According to the complaint, they were then forced into signing an “agreement” that they would jointly pay Chatwal’s company Rs.60 million because they had reportedly over-invoiced for goods. Khandelwal and his associates were suppliers of furnishings to Chatwal’s newly constructed hotel.

The complainant has also sought police protection fearing a reprisal attack.

The home ministry is also ascertaining facts in connection with the fresh complaints.

Home Secretary G.K. Pillai is on record stating that “facts were being ascertained”.

Controversy has broken out ever since the government decided to honour Chatwal with the Padma Bhushan, the nation’s third highest civilian award this Republic Day because he was chargesheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation in a fraud case.

However, the government defended its decision saying there was nothing adverse on record against the US-based hotelier and a due diligence exercise was undertaken before announcing his name for the award.

Between 1992 and 1994, the CBI had registered five cases against Chatwal and some bank officials for conniving with the intention to defraud the Bank of Baroda and Bank of India.

“Three of these cases were closed by the CBI itself while chargesheets were filed by the CBI in two cases before the court of special judge, CBI, Mumbai. In these two cases also, the court discharged Chatwal,” the home ministry said.

Following the hullabaloo, the government pointed out Chatwal was a tireless advocate of India’s interests in the US and had been working relentlessly for strengthening bilateral relationships between the two countries.

Apart from his landmark Bombay Palace restaurant in mid-town Manhattan, Chatwal has a host of hospitality projects in the US, Canada, Thailand and India under the name of Hampshire Hotels and Resorts. His latest venture was the Dream Hotel in Kochi.