NYDailyNews

Clinton Donor Wanted in India Hunted by bank fraud probers during Bill trip, reports say

By BOB PORT
Daily News Staff Writer

A major political contributor to Bill Clinton and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton was being sought by police in India while he accompanied the former President on a recent trip there, the Indian press has reported.

India's Central Bureau of Investigation tried last month to jail Sant Singh Chatwal, whose family operates the Bombay Palace chain of restaurants and the Hampshire Hotels chain in New York City, according to the Times of India and the Indian Express.

But Chatwal used his political connections and role as a Clinton companion to elude a top cop hot on his trail during the former President's visit, the newspapers said.

Indian authorities filed charges against Chatwal in December alleging that he defrauded the Bank of India of millions.

The reports from India could not be confirmed yesterday. A spokesman for Chatwal said his boss plans to return to New York today and wants to set the record straight. "He should like to handle it himself," said Rabinder Singh.

Clinton traveled to India in April as a guest of the American India Foundation, a group of Indian-American businessmen raising money for victims of the Gujarat earthquake. Chatwal's son, Vikram, is a foundation trustee.

Chatwal funneled at least $210,000 in soft money to Hillary Clinton last fall, making him one of the senator's biggest soft-money donors. His contributions came even as debtors pursued him in bankruptcy court for more than $100 million, including more than $30 million in unpaid taxes.

Chatwal reportedly visited India in February to help arrange Clinton's Gujarat visit and again in April, when he accompanied the ex-President on his trip. He also was with Clinton and daughter Chelsea on a presidential visit to India last year.

The restaurateur boasted to the Indian Express that he has been a Clinton friend for 10 years, since holding his first fund-raising dinner in New York. He told the newspaper he refused an offer from Clinton to bail him out of jail — were he arrested by Indian authorities.

Neither Bill Clinton's nor Hillary Clinton's offices responded yesterday to questions about Chatwal.

-- Anonymous, May 08, 2001