US Marshals, still looking for him, suspect that Prakashanand Saraswati, known to his devotees as Swamiji, may have fled America in connivance with his close associates.
A United States jury on Wednesday sentenced an elderly Hindu religious leader to 14 years in prison and fined a $ 10,000 on each of 20 counts of molesting two girls who grew up on the ashram he founded and led in Central Texas.
In a statement, Hays County Sheriff's office said it was on the lookout for Prakashanand Saraswati, known to his devotees as Shree Swamiji and is head of the 200-acre Hindu ashram in Texas, after the arrest warrant was issued against him.
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 released on a US$ one million bail by District Judge Bill Henry in April.Saraswati was indicted on 20 counts of indecency between 1993 and 1996. He was arrested on April 24 at the Washington Dulles International Airport, after he arrived on a flight from Europe, where he had been receiving treatment.
Hindu priest Prakashanand Saraswati, 79, has been charged with 20 counts of indecency with a child and released on a whopping $1 million bail bond by a United States court. Known to his followers as Shree Swamiji, the priest is accused of groping two underage girls on several occasions in the 1990s. The case stems from an investigation that started in May 2007, sealed indictments were issued in April after which an arrest warrant was issued against Saraswati.
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 Shiree Swamiji, the priest is accused of groping two underage girls on several occasions in the 1990s.
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