Swami rape charge big news in India --

[Janesha]

The swami case, one year on
By Eric Dexheimer | Friday, April 24, 2009, 07:30 AM
Today marks the one year anniversary of the arrest of Prakashanand Saraswati, the spiritual leader of Barsana Dham, the Hindu ashram south of Austin. Over the past twelve months, Prakashanand’s case has been winding through the court system at an unusually slow pace, officials said.

On April 24, 2008, U.S. marshals took Prakashanand, who is known as Shree Swamiji to his followers, into custody as he exited a plane at Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C. He was subsequently charged with groping two teen-aged girls on 10 occasions each between 1993 and 1996, according to a Hays County indictment.

Since then, other women affiliated with Barsana Dham have come forward claiming that the holy man, or his India-based guru, either had sexual contact with them, or solicited it.(Read those stories here.)

While the case produced a few dramatic moments early on — in May a devotee pledged $10 million of his personal fortune as a guarantee that the swami would return to the country for his trial if permitted to travel in the meantime — it generally has been plagued by one postponement after another. In all, various hearings have been canceled and rescheduled eight separate times, according to Hays County court records.

Although complicated criminal cases often drag on, that seems like an unusually high number, admitted Hays County District Attorney Sherri Tibbe in an email.“It is true that cases typically are not reset or canceled this many times in my experience,” she wrote, although she conceded that “I do not have any statistical information to document that point.”

Tibbe also declined to give any updates.“We are anticipating a trial in this case and I do not want to make any comments specifically about the case,” she wrote.

A separate case, in which Prakashanad is appealing his ban from the ashram, is pending at the 3rd Court of Appeals.

Comments

By les izmore
April 24, 2009 8:50 AM
It’s a well known fact that big money lawyers can get a case cancelled and/or reset numerous times, and this is what has happened in this “swami case”. The ban is a joke, as he is living less than 1 mile from the compound, and running it absentee. He has been accused of molesting numerous women in addition to the 2 in this story. This is very typical behavior from a perfect master, be it hindu or buddist. It is time for the public to stand up and understand this: these men are nothing more than hindu and buddist opportunists, who take money from the dysfuntionals, brainwash them,and then are worshipped.

By Seeking Truth
April 24, 2009 10:36 AM
Les Izmore — you are exactly right. Why aren’t more people waking up and seeing the truth of this place? This fake guru has a team of high-priced lawyers (at least 7). Of course this is all paid for by donations. Barsana Dham still hosts public events with many children present. And his preachers still take people out to see him - including children - at his residence right down the road. This case needs to be tried and soon so that justice can be done and the public can be educated and warned. Inside that ashram there are many, many secret, which would shock the public — all of them need to be told.

[Janesha]

It appears that nothing is going right for Prakashanand Saraswati since his arrest on April 24th, 2008, for 20 counts of inappropriate contact with minors. You kind of have to wonder why his professed God-like powers are failing him now?

Today the 3rd Court of Appeals in Texas denied his attempt to be allowed back into his Barsana Dham ashram near Austin Texas. His legal team filed a writ of habeas corpus ealier this year saying that he was being 'denied his religious freedom.'

Today the 3rd court basically said:'You agreed to these terms freely and willingly to get your passport back.'

Here are the first two articles on the news published today:

tatesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/a...

sanmarcosmercury.com/archives/9099

[pragya]

Raju wrote:

<quoted text>
To save some ones life in my family gets spoiled, please provide me truth and name & phone number of your friend's wife, pls help

Read more about Divine Exploitation at:

http://publish.indymedia.org/en/2009/06/92596...

[MisterTibbs]

Are we still talking about this pervert?

[Kripalu Maharaj ka Baap]

He is most sick person in the world. He call innocent girls and women on pretext of preaching and then use them to satisfy his lust.

This swami was also involved the the money laundrintg business and it was clearly shown in the sting operation on Aaj Tak. After that he gave purchased big time slot on Aaj Tak (to show his preachings) and obviusly all sting operation was put in cold bag.

If he preaches all this !@#$%^& then why he live so lavishly ?????

[MisterTibbs]

That is what most religious leaders do.

Kripalu Maharaj ka Baap wrote:

He is most sick person in the world. He call innocent girls and women on pretext of preaching and then use them to satisfy his lust.
This swami was also involved the the money laundrintg business and it was clearly shown in the sting operation on Aaj Tak. After that he gave purchased big time slot on Aaj Tak (to show his preachings) and obviusly all sting operation was put in cold bag.
If he preaches all this !@#$%^& then why he live so lavishly ?????

[Kripalu escapee]

Hi I went to Kripalu unknowing of all of their past dramas....I had an unusual experience up there and I am not sure if it was Kripalu's fault or whatever...I think I am lucky to have escaped but however there were other young girls who ended up staying longer than planned..i think mostly the problem is the practice of yoga with men and women in the same room...i do not think it is good...I was supposed to complete a month long yoga training but I left after one week because I just felt a weird energy there...