How Gupta Cheated Hansadutta
and took control over the book publishing [Krsna Books Inc.]
Hansadutta [Hans Kary] vs. Gupta [Joseph Fedorowsky]
Gupta das
From: madhudvisa@hotmail.com
To: Gupta das [Joseph Fedorowsky]
Date: Wed, 24 Mar 1999
Dear Gupta Prabhu
Hari Bol! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Thanks for the note. I've noted the progress of Hansadutta's case with a great deal of distress indeed. The whole thing is almost unbelievable. From the information I have it appears you have not acted in the best interests of your client [Hansadutta] in this matter at all. From where I sit it appears while acting as Hansadutta's attorney you were actually acting in the interests of ISKCON.
Otherwise how could you have possibly advised Hansadutta to accept such a ridiculous settlement with ISKCON when he was in such a strong legal position? You know it well that he has agreed to terms which make it very difficult indeed to actually distribute any books even if he prints them... And to further complicate matters you have advised him to place the settlement monies in a trust and bank account that you seem to have sole control over. In other words you have used various devices to steal the settlement monies from your client and place them in a trust account which you have sole access to but your client does not have any access whatsoever.
Even though you have the settlement monies in your control at this time we have heard some reports that you are spending the money on you sense gratification, not on printing Srila Prabhupada's original books. At the same time you are trying to sue Hansadutta for another $600,000+ [Your "legal fees" I suppose...] But you are meant to be a devotee and the work you did on the case was supposed to be your devotional service...
So the only thing I can conclude, at least from the information I have, is you are in it for the money, not for printing Srila Prabhupada's original books at all.
It's not a very intelligent path to take. Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and Srila Prabhupada is His pure devotee. By acting for ISKCON in this matter you have frustrated the attempts to reprint Srila Prabhupada's original books and have advised Hansadutta to accept a most ridiculous settlement with ISKCON.
At least, from the information I have at my disposal, I can't see why you would want to print Srila Prabhupada's original books. You appear to be working for ISKCON and they have constantly tried to kill Srila Prabhupada, destroy his books, and bash, ban, blaspheme and beat any devotee who dares take shelter of Srila Prabhupada. They have constantly worked to transform Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON into a mundane religious organization in which they can be the "high priests." But they have absolutely no intention of becoming pure devotees, becoming qualified gurus... They want to be "High Priests" without any spiritual qualifications... And they seem to be your clients now, so how can I believe you want to print Srila Prabhupada's original books?
If you actually wanted to print the books there's nothing whatsoever stopping you from printing them NOW. You have enough money to print the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, the entire Srimad-Bhagavatam, and many other books also. But you are not printing ANYTHING! Why? Why should I believe that you will ever print anything? ......
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From: Aruna das
To: Madhudvisa, Hasti Gopal, Locanananda and PADA
Subject: Gupta and KBI fiasco special
Dear Puranjana Prabhu and all readers of PADA,
dear Hasti Gopal, Locanananda and Madhudvisa prabhus. PAMHO. AGTSP.
This is a reply to your articles in PADA's newsletter concerning Hansadutta, Gupta aka Joseph Fedorowsky and the KBI fiasco.
Hansadutta did NOT "signed over" the copyrights to the BBTI, because he never had any authorization in the first place. What Hansadutta did was to resign officially from his post as the BBT-Trustee, to which Srila Prabhupada has appointed him life-long (even in writing). The so called copyrights are still with the BBT, but the problem is that the original trustees of that Bhaktivedanta Book Trust have either resigned or fallen away, so the book trust itself is not functional at present, being bereft of its original trustees. That is the real issue and problem. Legally it is very questionable if the bogus BBTI can take over the BBT by getting their own man signed in with the help of Hansaduttas resignation.
The BBTI is a an illegal impostor corporation created by Iskcon, which has absolutely no legal rights over Prabhupadas books. They just want to usurp the BBT and control all of the money and printing. The court case against Hansadutta was to contest Prabhupadas own originally created BBT in court, trying to degrade Srila Prabhupada to a mere scribbling of Iskcon and a hired servant of the BBT-I Inc. By suing Prabhupada's lifelong appointed trustees the bogus BBTI managers thought to get the control over the BBT. That Hansadutta has resigned from being a BBT trustee is unfortunate, but it does not mean that automatically the bogus BBTI has the printing rights. This is not the case. The rights are still with the BBT only, which at present is disintegrated because it has no more functional trustees. So the BBTI is NOT Prabhupada's BBT at all and they absolutely have no claim to the copyrights on Prabhupada's books.
Unfortunately Hansadutta agreed to a court settlement in which he was offered by Iskcon/BBTI to privately print books outside of Iskcon if he officially resigns as BBT Trustee, and this Idiot (by the advice of his lawyer Gupta) went for it. He betrayed Srila Prabhupada by resigning from his service personally given to him by Prabhupada. (to print original books as BBT-Trustee)
Srila Prabhupada wanted the BBT to be separate from Iskcon, but Hansadutta being a BBT-Trustee resigned from his post, playing the original BBT into the hands of Iskcon GBC-clones, with Dryadwaita Swami on their head, who is perverting all of Prabhupada's original translations, without being checked by anybody.
Hansadutta voluntarily renounced the Sacred Trust as lifetime GUARDIAN of Srila Prabhupada's books for the right to print books outside of Iskcon for personal profit, in any way he likes, with no checks and balances, just to make quick bucks with his own privatised company, by his personalized rights to privatise Srila Prabhupada's books, for himself only. How selfish. How foolish. How unfortunate. What an idiot. What a fool.
The only nonnegotiable thing was for him to remain Prabhupada's BBT Trustee as per his order (as his re-established BBT trustee). As BBT Trustee, it was his fiduciary responsibility to fight an appeal to uphold Srila Prabhupada's original BBT Trust, with himself as his appointed trustee.
By appointing Hansadutta as a BBT trustee, Srila Prabhupada knew very well that despite his bad habits and artificial fall-downs, he still had the POTENTIAL to save His BBT from the inevitable book changers and political managers that rushed to change His books even before He went into His final Samadhi.
Srila Prabhupadas original books are not separate from Iskcon so that the BBT trustees would have the power to demand the purity and obedience to Srila Prabhupada before licensing publishing rights to any branch of Iskcon. In that way, the BBT Trustee was created as the ultimate watchdog of the standards of Iskcon.
But Hansadutta has rejected his service of protecting the integrity of Srila Prabhupada's book-setup, by not getting a court settlement of being re-established as Prabhupadas appointed BBT-Trustee. On the opposite, he gave up his post to the KING of the book-changers, Jayadwaita Swami. Not only will the BBTI now NOT be forced to rectify the changed books of the Pure Devotee, but the book-changing fox has been locked in with the chickens! It is hilarious, one does not know if to laugh or cry. Srila Prabhupada wanted him, as his BBT trustee, to protect his books but he has betrayed him by selling out to the greatest demon and book-changers for a cheap settlement of personal publishing rights.
In the settlement it is stated: "Hansadutta Dasa, Veda Guhya Dasa, Bhagavan Dasa, and Dasa Dasanudasa Dasa Dasi have voluntarily stepped down from any role they might have had as trustees of the 1972 trust. And all concerned have agreed that now the (new) trustees (of the BBT) will be four trustees from the BBT-I International: Brahma Muhurta Dasa, Naresvara Dasa, Svavasa Dasa, and Jayadvaita Swami."
So, that means the new BBT trustees are now Brahma Muhurta Dasa, Naresvara Dasa, Svavasa Dasa, and Jayadvaita Swami, and the bogus BBT-I trustees are also Brahma Muhurta Dasa, Nerdesvara Dasa, Svavasa Dasa, and Jayadvaita Swami.
The settlement further states: "With the validity of the California trust now reaffirmed, all parties agree that the rightful beneficiary of the trust is the International Society for Krishna Consciousness". "The BBT-I will continue handling the active side of the BBT operations" (What is that meaning??)
Sounds really bad, and this scum Naresvara (a real nerd) also called Nerdesvara helped destroy the Singapore printing. WOW, the worst scum's Jayadvaita, Nerdesvara and Svavas controlling the BBT as well as the BBT-I. Unbelievable!
Anyway, however, despite Hansadutta being granted to privately print books, he could not do so, because Gupta das, aka Joseph Fedorowsky, (Hansaduttas lawyer (liar) for the court case), very badly cheated him, together with Bhagavan, by taking control of the newly created KBI-Book company including all of the money from the court case. Hansadutta very bitterly complained that Gupta has stolen wide more than 100'000 USD and is completely paralysing the printing. Gupta has conspired with Bhagavan (William Ehrlichman) and they have completely ripped him off.
This is Hansaduttas reaction for compromising his BBT post (given him by Prabhupada) selling out for a cheap privatised printing license from Iskcons bogus BBTI managers.
On Jan 15, 1999 Hansadutta wrote to VNN - http://www.vnn.org/usa/US9901/US15-2858.html - concerning the dismissal Of Gupta: "This announcement is to inform all interested parties that Gupta das, a.k.a. Joseph Fedorowsky of Oxford law firm, no longer represents K.B.Inc. (Krsna Books Inc.) of which Hans Jurgen Kary (Hansadutta das) is the chairman of the Board. He also has been dismissed and replaced as a trustee of the "Krsna Books Publishing Trust". Joseph Fedorowsky does not represent the above mentioned corporation, nor the trust in any manner, legal or otherwise. Inquiries regarding the activities of K.B.Inc. e-mail hans@sonic.net [email no longer valid]
But by this time, it was to late already. Hansadutta did not realize that Gupta had cheated him by registering the LICENSEE as "Krishna Books Inc" and not as "Krsna Books Inc".
Hansaduttas Company is called "Krsna Books Inc" and Guptas company (of which solely Gupta is in charge) is called "Krishna Books Inc". Please note that those are two complete differently registered Companies. Of course the settlement monies as well as the license for printing books was granted to "Krishna Books Inc" which means to Gupta.
An internal Board dispute surrounding the identity and form of the real Licensee necessitated a contested Motion to Amend the Stipulated Judgment in settlement of the underlying BBTI v Kary court case.
So Gupta explained to Hansadutta that "Krishna Books Inc" has no affiliation with "Krsna Books Inc" and placed the following article on VNN to clarify who the real LICENSEE is:
USA, Mar 30,1999 VNN3459 — Court Affirms Krishna Books Inc As Licensee
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge John P. Shook ruled yesterday that Krishna Books Inc, a California Nonprofit Religious Corporation, is the official LICENSEE which holds the License to print and publish the pre-1978 Works of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. That License was granted on November 13, 1998, by the LICENSOR, that is, the revalidated BBT, and it's agent, the BBTI, to the LICENSEE, in settlement of the underlying BBTI v Kary BC 170617 case.
An internal Board dispute surrounding the identity and form of the Licensee necessitated a contested Motion to Amend the Stipulated Judgment to affirm the Licensee as Krishna Books Inc. The Court's ruling today resolved that legal dispute over the identity of the LICENSEE and now paves the way for the Board of Directors of Krishna Books Inc to print and publish the original, unedited Works of His Divine Grace. It should also be noted that the California Nonprofit Religious Corporation, Krishna Books Inc, has no affiliation with "Krsna Books Inc".
What a clever trick. Hansadutta thought to dismiss Gupta from his book publishing trust but Gupta kicked out Hansadutta from the Board of Directors of "Krishna Books Inc". For all the cheating Gupta did, Hansadutta filed a case against him and complained to the Bar association to get Fedorowsky disbarred as a Lawyer.
Gupta has convoluted and thrown the whole KBI situation into confusion. Actually this Gupta does not have a single book ( Krishna Book ) in his house or office, never reads these books, never sells books, never has printed a Book, and never will print a book. He does not Chant Hare Krishna, neither he follows the 4 regulative principles, never rises before 7 or 8 in the morning, and is bringing his child of 4 years old up to be a complete Karmie, his wife is a karmie. They laugh in amusement when their child (a girl ) says things like 'Mother fucker' or 'You ass hole' (Sorry about that ). He does not follow any sadhana at all, does not follow the four regulative principles, or even has any faith in Srila Prabhupada as a Pure, infallible transparent medium to Krishna. In fact he does not believe in Krishna at all, he is a Buddhist by his own declaration. He personally told Hansadutta he does not believe everything Srila Prabhupada did or said was right. He declared to another devotee some time ago "Actually I am a Buddhist, I no longer believe in Krishna , I don't think there is any absolute truth" Gupta is simply patronizing the devotees to appear devotional. His underlying motive is money only, not Vani or books. He thought this would be a good 'cash cow' from now till forever if he positioned himself strategically.
Gupta has frozen the whole printing situation with his legal manoeuvrings, making demands for more money, and legal structural arrangements designed to put Hansadutta in Check by placing Bhagavan (William Ehrlichman, Pot head, womanizer and recently convicted counterfitted and drug dealer) as a co. protector trustee on Hansaduttas head. Gupta has also threatened to go to court in concert with ISKCON to reverse the license granted to Hansadutta, who has hired a number of lawyers to deal with the situation. Bhagavan was arrested on December 28 or 29th 1998 in New York city for "Defrauding the public" The judge will be interested to know Bhagvan's criminal history, and of course his involvement in the most recent fraud in concert with Fraud-erowsky, who by the way also has a pretty bizzare criminal history, murder drugs etc. Of course he turned states evidence so he got off, but it's all there and Judges understand these things.
Gupta always had an underlying motive, namely money, and he is trying to take the whole thing for himself, he has positioned himself (due to Hansaduttas naive nature) in all the key positions, like, sole signor on the bank acct, as a trustee, as a director, and of course he is a lawyer (Liar), and he poses as a devotee, even demanding he be paid $200.00 per hour for his "DEVOTIONAL SERVICE" totaling about $670,000.00 USD and additional fees as he see fit. He started out by signing an agreement to work for $50.00 an hour, and then it was discovered he mis- appropriated $125,000.00 USD given to him as investment capital from which the interest accrued would go to pay his legal fees. The money vanished, no accounting from him, only much talk. But there are legal channels which can deal with this. He also took, without authority, about $60,000.00 USD from the Krsna Trust acct. of which he made himself the sole signor along with some karmie friend. Fortunately Bhima from Singapore caught on to his scheme in time, and not all is lost yet, except a lot of time and irritation.
A complaint to the Bar association against Mr. Fedorowsky has been filed.
Summary: Mr. Fedorowsky breached his duty by:
1) Disclosing confidential client information
2) Converting $100,000.00 in investment funds
3) Unilaterally taking $60,000.00 out of the settlement money
4) Adding a person to the action without full disclosure
5) Failing to advise his five clients of potential conflicts
6) Taking a position contrary to the interest of his client
7) Double billing(five clients) and charging an unconscionable fee ($644,051.28)
8) Breaching the terms of the fee agreement
9) Breaching his fiduciary duty as a trustee
10) Failing to give notices before entering into business relationship with clients.
We herewith like to warn all devotees not to give any money to Guptas KBI. He is a total Fraud. (read below Hasti Gopals letter). For verification anyone can contact Hansadutta via his email: hans@sonic.net [email no longer valid]
From Hasti Gopal to PADA
Date: 06. Dec. 2000
Dear Prabhu please accept my humble obeisances all glories to Srila Prabhupada.
This letter in my title appeared Dec.5. You should check it out. I mean I don't have all the answers but I think it's time that KBI (Gupta) tell me what happened to the 1000$ US I sent them last spring 2000. I'm from Canada and it cost me 1500$CDN. There was supposed to be a printing of Easy Journey to Other Planets made from the floppy disc I sent. That was copied from an original 1959 version of that book done by Prabhupada. If there is not any forthcoming information to those that donated money for printing of the books on where are the books or where the money is, then a great deal strength will be lost and KBI will collapse. People talk. I have all along said that the best way to reprint the original books is for the PEOPLE to do it themselves, everywhere and the copyright be dammed. Looks like thats the way it will go in this 100 years war on Maya. So where is my money or better still where are the books?
your eternal servant,
Hasti Gopala Dasa
From Madhudvisa to Locanananda
Date: Fri, 8 Dec 2000
Dear Locanananda Prabhu
Haribol! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! I apologize for my "fiery" letter and please forgive any offence. Your article is, as usual, superexcellent and absolutely first-class and completely bona fide. I am sure it will confirm the determination of almost all the devotees that we should be distributing and printing Srila Prabhupada's original books.....
We have all seen the KBI fisaco where the BBT engineered a situation that put the control of the organization that was supposed to print Prabhupada's original books in the hands of their own lawyer. And now, almost two years later, KBI have not even printed a single book, and now they have indicated to you they do not intend to print any books at all as "everyone agrees" the BBTI should do it...
It is true of course, everyone agrees that we should be printing and distributing Prabhupada's original books and ONLY THE BBTI DISAGREES... It is ONLY the BBTI who have made the changes, there is no support for them in ISKCON even, so my humble suggestion is it is a little bit unrealistic to think the BBTI will ever print Prabhupada's original books... We have to "do the needful" and get the books back in print so the devotees and the people of the world have access to Prabhupada's original books. That is the main point.
BBTI is not even the "BBT" Prabhupada established. It is simply ISKCON operating under another name. They have nothing to do whatsoever with Prabhupada's BBT. It is simply a con. They are not the BBT and, as Hansadutta Prabhu's case has proved, THEY HAVE NO CLEAR CLAIM TO THE COPYRIGHTS OF PRABHUPADA'S BOOKS. So the copyright issue is not relevant. BBTI have no clear claim to the rights to Prabhupada's books at all. Nothing has changed since Hansadutta's case except Hansadutta "signed over" the copyrights to the BBTI... But it is very unlikely that Hansadutta had the copyrights of Prabhupada's books in his possession so his "signing over" of the copyrights to the BBTI is completely bogus also. So the BBTI is NOT Prabhupada's BBT at all and they do not have any clear claim to the copyrights on Prabhupada's books.
So these sentimental arguments that the "BBTI should do it" are not very relevant. THE BBT PRABHUPADA ESTABLISHED NO LONGER EXISTS. So now the sincere disciples of Srila Prabhupada have to "do the needful" and get Prabhupada's original books back in print and distribute them, perhaps by reestablishing the REAL BBT. This action alone can force the BBTI to print Prabhupada's original books also as in the presence of Prabhupada's original books there is no market for their adulterated versions of many of Prabhupada's books they print [NOT all of them are changed--BBTI still publish some original pre-1977 books as well]
please also read:
The Fate Of Krishna Books Inc.
Just What Is Jayadvaita's Point?
Akruranath's Challenge to Hansadutta
Hansadutta to rescind the BBT settlement agreement
reply to: angel108b@yahoo.com
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!
All glories to His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada!