Adnan Khashoggi: The arms dealer, disarmed by Indian bombshell Pamella Bordes

From a shudh vegetarian meal during a visit to India to his taste in a desi beauty, namely the controversy-generating Pamella Bordes ( nee Singh), Adnan Khashoggi's links with India spanned both extremes of the spectrum.

The high-rolling Saudi arms dealer who died in London last week at the age of 82, cultivated powerful friends.

Powerful individuals courted him as well.

Among Indians, he was cordial with the former Indian prime minister Chandra Shekhar and reportedly had business dealings with Chandraswami, the controversial, self-styled guru who helped him get access to influential Indians. He was also believed to have met another former prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi.


Bordes became Khashoggi's lover and also slept with several of his powerful friends. (Image: BCCL)

Khashoggi visited India in 1991 with his sons Omar and Mohammed and an entourage that included a masseur and a hairdresser. According to a report in India Today dated February 28, 1991, still available on its website, Khashoggi was welcomed at the airport by C B Gautam, Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar's secretary, and BJP'S Dr J K Jain, among others.


Adnan Khashoggi at the Manhattan Federal Court in New York in 1990. (Image: AP)

The group drove directly to Bhondsi, prime minister Chandra Shekhar's private retreat where Khashoggi met Chandra Shekhar and Chandraswami. The report also says that Jain hosted a dinner for Khashoggi at his home, and that the guests were welcomed with a traditional aarti. "It was a social dinner," Jain said at the time. "I was only returning his hospitality. I've stayed at his house in New York, so can't I host a simple non-alcoholic, vegetarian dinner for him? So what if he sells arms? The policy of my party too is that we don't believe in social or political untouchability."


Pamella was crowned Miss India in 1982. (Image: BCCL)

Chandraswami introduced Khashoggi not just to businessmen and ministers but also Pamella Bordes, a high- end, Indian origin London escort and Miss Universe aspirant. Bordes became Khashoggi's lover and also slept with several of his powerful friends. In her revelations in the UK's Daily Mail tabloid, Bordes wrote of spending five days at Khashoggi's estate in Marbella, Spain, and being looked after very well.