March 02, 2005

Show-cause notice to Swaminarayan priest

INDIA
ExpressIndia.com

Express News Service

Rajkot, March 2: FOLLOWING widespread protest by devotees, the Radharaman trust has issued a showcause notice to Junagadh temple sadhu P P Swami allegedly for possessing properties in Jetpur town of Rajkot district. The notice is yet to be received by P P Swami, who has been absconding since February 23.

P P Swami and chairman of Junagadh Swaminarayan temple Devnandan Swami have also been accused of molesting a girl about three years ago. But the temple board has decided against touching this issue. The family members of a Rajkot-based girl along with other devotees of the Swaminarayan temple on Bhupendra Road had alleged that Devnandan Swami and his junior had molested the girl. They also alleged that these two sadhus own properties worth several lakhs in Rajkot district. The issue was raised once again at a meeting held in Jetpur on Sunday. Devotees of all five sub-sects attended the meeting and demanded action against both sadhus.

‘‘The temple board has issued a notice, seeking clarification about ownership of property in Jetpur. But P P Swami, who has been absconding since February 23, has not received the notice,’’ said Purshottam Thumar, a trustee with Radharaman Temple Board, adding, ‘‘The Board is likely to disqualify P P Swami soon.’’

Posted by kshaw at March 2, 2005 08:38 PM