WASHINGTON, DC: Indian American spiritualist, physician and entrepreneur Deepak Chopra has landed himself in the middle of a legal brouhaha regarding a monetary dispute with a former business partner.

According to legal documents filed in Los Angeles state court, Chopra gave former business partner Jim Walsh $150,000 to be used for the creation of “The Consciousness Project,” a non-profit venture. Chopra allegedly wanted to create it for a study of spirituality and its ties to the human consciousness. Instead, however, Walsh allegedly used that money for his own means, specifically to cover-up some financial shortcomings in one of his other companies.

Additionally, Walsh made an informal commitment of $5 million to The Consciousness Project, a donation which would be co-funded by software company SAP. Instead, that money will most likely not come to fruition, as Walsh is now trying to keep it to himself while Chopra attempts to make Walsh honor his commitment and donate the $5 million to the cause.

Chopra’s demands in the lawsuit are that the $150,000 be returned and that Walsh cease to associate himself publicly with Chopra’s foundation. Chopra is also seeking $75,000 that he allegedly gave to Walsh for the latter’s HESA Institute, of which Chopra was seeking a stake in. The HESA Institute is an organization dedicated to finding cures for mental disorders such as autism via computer-based methods, and partners with several top-tier research institutions to further its pursuits.

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