A Hindu priest who has been charged with 20 counts of indecency with a child was released on a whopping USD 1 million bail bond by a US court.
Prakashanand Saraswati, 79, founder of the Barsana Dham centre in north Hays County in Texas — one of the biggest Hindu temples in the US — was arrested at an airport in Washington, DC last week.
Known to his followers as Shree Swamiji, the priest is accused of groping two underage girls on several occasions in the 1990s.
Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt Leroy Opiela said, the priest was booked “on two indictments alleging 20 counts of indecency with a child or sexual contact.” District Judge Bill Henry set bond at USD 50,000 for each charge.
The case stems from an investigation that started last May, sealed indictments were issued in April after which an arrest warrant was issued against Saraswati.
The Barasana Dham temple said, “It is unfortunate and sad that someone has made these false and damaging allegations.” Saraswati was born in India and came to Central Texas to build his dream temple, Barsana Dham. Opiela said the sheriff doesn’t plan to release any more information.
