The historical case of Prof. V.J.A. Flynn, a friend of many Indian historians – arrested for smuggling, jailed and deported to Australia for further proceedings!

Historians involved in smuggling also – The historical case of Prof. V.J.A. Flynn, a friend of many Indian historians – arrested for smuggling, jailed and deported to Australia for further proceedings!

VJA Flynn was in India for 40 years, but arrested in 1994: Vincent John Adams Flynn – VJA Flynn – Dr Flynn first travelled to India in the mid-1950s, made several visits in the 1960s, again in 1972, had three short visits in the mid-1970s but did not return until 1989.  Thus, nearly a period spreading over 40 years, he spent in India and making trips to his home country – Australia in between. He returned in 1990 to Australia to proceed his activities.  He had reportedly and pursued scholastic endeavour and was awarded a PhD in medieval Indian history by the Australian National University in 1976. He submitted his thesis, “An English translation the Adani-‘Alamgiri – the period before the war of succession being the letters of prince of Muhammed Aurangazib Bahadur to Muhammad Shihbud-din Shah Jahan Sahib-i-Qiran-i-Sani Emperor of Hindustan,” in 1974 to the Australian National University.  For this, he thanked Professor A.L. Basham for encouraging his efforts, and tolerating his shortcomings and Dr S.A.A. Rizvi (Saiyid Athar Abbas Rizvi) has taught him the Persian language, and understanding of  Islam. A bachelor with a penchant for foreign travel, he was an academic, philanthropist and collector on an epic scale. His fleet of 160 cars, including many American classics like Cadillacs and Buicks, was sold last year[1]. Rich in English furniture of the Regency era around the 1820s, the collection comprises over 400 lots including dozens of bookcases, desks, wardrobes, tables and chairs, clocks and musical instruments[2].

The case of Vincent John Adams Flynn (1936-2016): Prof Dr VJA Flynn had been very close friend and associate of many leading historians of India like S. A. A. Rizvi, Irfan Habib and others. In 1962, he went to Nigeria in s student delegation with John Niland, Graham Richardson, John Clark and others, and they have been VIPs of Australia today. In 1974, he got PhD for his thesis on “Arab-i-Alangiri”. In 1983, he won a case against his brother Catholic priest Jeremy Flynn for the distribution of income coming from the George Adam Estate[3]. Father Jeremy George Adams Flynn (42), of Papua New Guinea, and his eldest brother, Dr Vincent John Flynn (46), of Sydney, are descendants of the Tattersall’s Sweep founder George Adams. The amount received from the estate was to be shared equally among the three brothers, but, VJA Flynn took the whole amount without the consent of his brothers. Fr. Flynn disappeared and reportedly dead in 1995. In 1998, Roger Paramasivam filed a petition against Flynn accusing him for harassing sexually, but, the case was dismissed[4]. These are mentioned to show that Flynn has been a litigant and comfortable with the provisions of Act and rules.

Prof Flynn tried to export antiquities violating the Act and Rules of India (1993): However, the officers of DRI (Directorate of Revenue Intelligence), Delhi Zonal Unit, intercepted a consignment of antiquities which were being allegedly attempted to be smuggled out to Hong Kong in six packages vide shipping Bill No 416 dated January 19, 1993 by making false declaration as handicraft items of stones. The alleged antiquities were loaded from a container which was parked at ICD Tughlakabad, Okhla. On verification, it was found that it contained 18 stone sculptures of deities, certified to be antiquities, by the Archaeological Survey of India. DRI officers caught hold of Girish Dhawan and registered a complaint that his services had been engaged for documentation and processing of shipping bills in question, for `a huge sum of rupees’. One learns from the text of the Delhi High Court judgment dated May 1 that the complaint had been filed under Sections 132 and 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act; queerly, “no complaint was filed for the violation of the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972,” thus noted the Hindu Businessline[5].

Dr Flynn was detailed for carrying coins along with his friend at New Delhi airport (1994): He had travelled India, stayed in metros and interacted with many. On June 21^st, 1994, when he with Australian passport and his friend Sadasivan Mudaliar with Fiji passport were leaving for Sydney via Hong Kong by Air India Flight, they were intercepted at the Airport, and the Customs authorities found many coins which were suspected to be antiquities and prohibited for export under Section 3 of the Antiquities Act. Shri V. D. Sharam, Superintending Archaeologist examined these coins and prima facie opined that these were antiquities. He also suggested that these be got examined from the Director General of Archaeological Survey of India as required under Section 24 of the Antiquities Act for final decision.

V.J.A. Flynn was also a pedophile, besides, antique smuggler: Parts of the estate of wealthy Canberra man John Flynn have been auctioned off, but few people know the Tatersall’s heir was suspected of being a serial paedophile, despite never being charged[6]. Over the past few days, Flynn’s collection of more than 160 classic cars went under the hammer at Queanbeyan[7]. But his alleged victims said his wealth and philanthropic activities masked a more sinister life[8]. In the early 1990s Flynn made repeated trips to India, and was arrested in 1995 after he was caught trying to take several thousand antique coins out of the country[9]. He was imprisoned under state of emergency laws, and languished in New Dehli’s infamous Tihar Jail for more than a year. But behind the scenes lawyers, diplomats and officials said the Indian Government used the coins as a way to lock up Flynn, a known paedophile.

Flynn never convicted for sex offences: Alleged victim Roger Paramasivam said in a police statement Flynn brought him and at least three other boys into the country when he was underage. According to the statement, the boys were forced to sleep with Flynn and were sexually abused. “In the evenings everybody had their turn to go to his room and massage him,” Mr Paramasivam’s statement said. “During these times he would perform … sex on me … this continued for a year and would have occurred about 50 times.” Despite the statement, the police investigation was not continued, prompting former ACT attorney-general Bernard Collaery to pursue Flynn for damages. The case went all the way to the High Court, but was lost in the end, due to the statute of limitations. A death notice for Flynn was posted in May. He denied the allegations and was never convicted of sex offences against children.

The case died with natural death of Flynn in 2016: Flynn defended that had bought these rare coins from a shop located on the ground floor of Hotel Surya, Near Railway Station, Bangalore. He further states that he had been collecting the coins for over 50 years for his own delight and enjoyment and they were easily available in the India roads. Some of these coins were of copper and silver. He kept some coins in the house of accused No. 3 at B-9, Pamposh, New Delhi. On search being conducted at the house of accused No. 3, as many as 34149 old metallic coins were recovered. The Collector of Customs accorded the sanction for prosecution of the petitioner vide his order dated 19th August, 1994. complaint under section 132, 135 (1)(a) and 135-A of the Customs Act, 1962 was filed in the Court on 28th August, 1994. Cognizance on the complaint was taken by the learned Trial Court on the same day. Accused were summoned for 30th August, 1994. The Delhi High Court dismissed the orders of detention[10]. They were arrested, prosecuted and sentenced to jail. Flynn was in Jail for 21 months (from July 1994 to April 1996) and returned to Australia in April 1996. The case was taken up by the Senate of Australia, Dr Vincent John Adams Flynn has been a citizen of Australia living at 149 Mugga Way, Red Hill, Australian, Capital Territory and India and Australia are coming under Commonwealth countries category[11]. The CESTAT, New Delhi remanded the case back to the original adjudicating authority on February 3, 2016. Ironically, Flynn expired on May 5, 2016 in Australia. In view of the above, it is evident that the Indian historians, who were hobnobbing with him and enjoying time, wanted / want to forget the past, and pretend as if such person neer came to India or met them in life.

© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao

17-02-2022

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[1] Financial Review, Tattersall’s heir John Flynn’s antiques go to auction after Mossgreen issue, Peter Fish, Jun 27, 2018 – 10.00 pm.

[2] https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/arts-and-culture/delivered-from-mossgreen-tatts-heirs-hoard-hits-market-20180626-h11wh4

[3] The Canberra Times (ACT: 1925-1995), Priest wins, Friday 22 April 1993, p.6.

[4] Paramasivam, Roger v Flynn, Vincent John Adams – [1998] FCA 1711; 90 FCR 489, https://jade.io/article/116170

[5] D. Murali, Cobwebs in the law on antiquities,  Business Line print edition dated June 12, 2006 –  http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-others/tp-variety/cobwebs-in-the-law-on-antiquities/article1736489.ece

[6] ABC.Net, Dead Tattersalls heir John Flynn was suspected serial paedophile, By Gordon Taylor, Posted Sat 19 Nov 2016 at 6:37am; updated Mon 20 Feb 2017 at 12:22 pm.

[7] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-19/dead-tattersalls-heir-suspected-of-being-serial-paedophile/8039704

[8] ABC, Dead Tattersalls heir John Flynn was suspected serial paedophile, NOVEMBER 19, 2016;  © 2016 Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

[9] https://www.mamamia.com.au/paedophiles-in-australia/

[10] Delhi High Court – Mr. V.J.A. Flynn And Mr. Shyam … vs Union Of India (Uoi) And Ors. on 26 November, 2002; Equivalent citations: 2003 (66) DRJ 381, 2003 (86) ECC 129, 2003 (159) ELT 92 Del; Author: S Aggarwal; Bench: D Jain, S Aggarwal. https://indiankanoon.org/doc/924272/

[11] FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND TRADE —References Wednesday, 13 November 1996, pp.234-267.