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	Swami Released on Bail, Denies Abuse Charges KXAN April 26, 2008 http://www.kxan.com/Global/story.asp?S=8233100&nav=menu73_7 AUSTIN, Texas - Prakashanand Saraswati or "Shree Swamiji" -- released from the Hays County jail on Saturday on a $1 million bond -- is at his temple under tight security and unavailable for interviews from local media. But his followers let the public into their temple and ashram on Saturday and responded to the allegations. Music, games, Indian cuisine and education on the Hindu religion were all part of an open house for Austinites to immerse themselves in the culture of Barsana Dham. Shree Swamiji's follower didn't let the accusations against their guru spoil their annual celebration. They vehemently deny Saraswati's involvement in any wrongdoing. "I am hurt to know there is someone out there that could think this of Swami Ji, but other than that, everybody is holding up well," said temple member Ritu Agarwal. Saraswati, 79, was detained at Dulles Airport in Washington DC on 20 counts of indecency with a child. He waived extradition and returned to Hays County Saturday. We were told by Barsana Dham members that Saraswati was tired but doing well. Saraswati founded the Barsana Dham Temple in Hays County almost twenty years ago. Pam Robinson with the Hays County Sheriff's Office said the charges against Saraswati stemmed from incidents that occured a dozen years ago with two girls under the age of 17. Those women, now adults, came to the Hays County Sheriff's Department last year. "The indictments stem from an investigation from August 2007," Robinson said. "The investigation was made by the Hays County Sheriff Office's criminal investigations division, and the Hays County District Attorney's Office filed the indictments in April 2008." The temple also released a statement on April 26: "We are grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support that we have received during the past 24 hours. Not only members of Barsana Dham but our neighbors adn members of the national Hindu community have contacted us to express their solidarity with Shree Swamiji. "This support is a great comfort at a time when we remain deeply saddened by the accusations against Swamiji. Barsana Dham reiterates in the strongest terms possible that the allegations of inappropriate touching of two females moer than 12 years ago are false. People from around the world who know Swamiji have contacted us to express their dismay that anyone would seek to injure a man of such extraordinary decency and the enormous contribution he has made to humanity and to the understanding of our faith. "We are absolutely unshaken in our belief that he will be vindicated and his message of devotion to God will be undiminished."
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