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	Hindu Leader Accused of Groping Gets Passport Back Promising the Austin-Area Temple Founder Will Return from Foreign Trip to Face Charges, One of His Followers Puts up $10 Million Associated Press, carried in Houston Chronicle May 20, 2008 http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5793220.html AUSTIN — A Hindu guru accused of groping two girls will be allowed to leave the country after an Austin follower put up $10 million as a guarantee the swami will return, a newspaper reported. Prakashanand Saraswati, the 79-year-old founder of the Barsana Dham Hindu temple in Hays County, retrieved his passport late last week, according to Hays County court records. A spokesman for Barsana Dham told the Austin American-Statesman on Tuesday that the guru intends to visit India soon to oversee several hospital-building projects sponsored by his organization. In a statement, temple Vice President Prabhakari Devi said on Tuesday that Saraswati's "gifts to Austin and the world are many. His honor and reputation will stand firm after these false allegations have been dismissed." District Attorney Sherri Tibbe said her office argued against permitting the guru to leave. Saraswati was indicted on 20 counts of indecency with two children between 1993 and 1996. He was arrested April 24 at Washington Dulles International Airport after he arrived on a flight from Europe. He was extradited to Hays County two days later and released on $1 million bail. Peter Spiegel testified before state District Judge Charles Ramsay that he was worth $10 million and would be willing to offer it as a guarantee, court administrator Martin Allen said on Tuesday. The paperwork was being finalized but hadn't been filed with the court, Allen said. Ramsay, who approved the deal, was out of town and unavailable for comment, Allen said. Spiegel is listed as a managing member, director and treasurer of JKP, Barsana Dham, the corporate name of the temple founded by Saraswati, according to state records. Spiegel, who is described on his Web site as a "serial entrepreneur," was traveling Monday and unavailable for comment. But through a spokesman, he said, "I have known Shree Swamiji for 24 years, and the accusations against him are false. Anyone who knows Swamiji well would have done the same thing."
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