08/20/98-2076

Harikesa Threatens to Become "ISKCON's Worst Enemy"

Germany (VNN) - VNN has obtained an excerpt from a letter written by Jayapataka Swami about Harikesa (former chairman of the GBC):

"15. He feels cheated by his financial assistants for not giving him his money. Harikesa Maharaja has asked his disciples who were handling his financial matters of some business investments used for sponsoring various projects in ISKCON around the world to surrender the capital fund to him within a few days. I asked him whether this money was his or ISKCON's. He was quite emphatic and intense on this topic and said that he had donated all his guru [daksina to] ISKCON. That it was "his money".

He stated that if his money wasn't given to him when and how he wanted it by 26th of August he would change. That he has been cooperative. He would remain a friend of ISKCON, but if he was cheated from his money then he would attack ISKCON and become ISKCON's worst enemy. He fiercely stated not to turn him into an enemy. That Srila Prabhupada had warned about turning someone into an enemy. He said that he has already made contacts with the highest authorities in the German Government and they fully support him. That he will expose ISKCON as a dangerous sect and also join with Hamsadutta's BBT case if he is cheated from his money. That an affidavit detailing various irregularities over the past so many years was with a notary in a safe deposit box.

Also if during his natural life any harm came to him, or Monika or her children at any time then immediately those papers would be given the German Government and ISKCON would be in big trouble, and senior devotees would have to serve 20 year jail sentences. He repeated how he has police protection in this score. He said he didn't want to do these things, but everyone has their "bottom line" and this was his. He wanted "his money" and if he was cheated [out of] it he felt morally justified to do these attacks against ISKCON."