Spiritual leader acquitted of forgery

A court in India has acquitted a controversial Hindu spiritual leader, Chandraswami, of conspiracy to defame a former prime minister, VP Singh.

The judge said there was no evidence against Chandraswami.

Prosecutors had accused Chandraswami, and several former senior Indian politicians and officials, of attempting to defame Mr Singh by forging documents alleging financial wrongdoing by his son.

Another former prime minister, PV Narasimha Rao, who was also accused of conspiracy in the case, was acquitted in an earlier hearing.