10/21/1998 - 2393 (See Related VNN Stories)

Harikesa Breakdown Possible Fraud

Germany (VNN) - As Harikesa das and his girlfriend Monica recently returned to Germany from a vacation at the French Riviera, VNN received reports of high level talks between GBC members and Harikesa regarding a possible reinstatement of Harikesa to his GBC/Guru position within ISKCON. Amongst other things these secret talks are said to be considering reinstating him in some areas of Russia where some of his most faithful followers are said to have raided BBT warehouses, taking some $800,000 worth of books and paraphernalia from ISKCON.

VNN has learned from reliable sources that Harikesa's "breakdown" is now considered by some ISKCON leaders as well as Harikesa disciples to be a complete fraud, in order to cover up his massive losses of money and improper dealings with women.

These sources tell VNN that due to the recent Russian stock market collapse Harikesa had lost $20 Million Dollars over night. After finding out about the loss over the phone he said: "Its all over!" The next day he is alleged to have staged his "near death experience" from which he was "saved" when Monica gave him a "new heart Chakra."

After that Harikesa is said to have called his disciple Brahma Muhurta, the BBT manager in Sweden at the time, demanding all the money to be turned over to him or else he would "release documents of illegal BBT business." Later the GBC Executive Committee is said to have negotiated this down to $500,000 which he was eventually given.

There is also suspicion now that Harikesa may have mixed himself some kind of drugs into the "Vibhuti" powder, which he was taking for many years.

If the GBC is considering such reinstatement of Harikesa, who is currently suspended from his ISKCON duties, they may have to do some fancy footwork to sell such reinstatement to the devotees.

This in the face of the current situation in Los Angeles, where a senior devotee, who is strictly following Srila Prabhupada's teachings, is currently forcefully evicted from his temple apartment, because he did not want to accept Jayatirtha as his guru in India in the past and does not want to take initiation from any current ISKCON guru, but has been and wants to serve Srila Prabhupada, the founder acarya of ISKCON. (see VNN story index)

In contrast Harikesa has recently fallen down, repeatedly criticized Srila Prabhupada publicly, disagrees with some of his teachings and has threatened to "become ISKCON's worst enemy", is invited back and is getting the royal treatment by ISKCON leadership.

(See Related VNN Stories)