BJP disappointed over Padma Bhushan to Chatwal

The BJP on Monday expressed its disappointment over the government's decision to award the Padma Bhushan to NRI hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal and sent a letter to the President, Ms Pratibha Patil, and the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, demanding that the award be taken back.

The Deputy Leader of the party in the Lok Sabha, Mr Gopinath Munde, wrote a letter to the President and Prime Minister expressing disapproval over the UPA government's decision to bestow the prestigious Padma Bhushan on Mr Chatwal, the BJP spokesperson, Mr Prakash Javadekar, said.

Mr Munde in his letter alleged that due to Mr Chatwal's controversial financial dealings he did not deserve the honour and it should be taken back.

In the list of Padma awardees announced on the eve of Republic Day on Monday, Mr Chatwal is one among the Padma Bhushan recipients.

Mr Chatwal, who is considered close to former US President, Mr Bill Clinton, and his wife and the US Secretary of State, Ms Hillary Clinton, was earlier chargesheeted by the CBI for an alleged $ 9 million fraud case connected with the State Bank of India. He had allegedly defaulted on paying back the money he owed to the bank.

The letter also mentions the CBI case against Mr Chatwal in which he was even arrested in Mumbai but got bail and left the country.

The hotelier was acquitted in one of the four cases in 2008 but since the Director of Prosecution opposed an appeal in the matter, the case was closed.

Mr Chatwal had recently announced that his Hampshire Hotels chain would set up 25 hotels in India by 2011.