Rajkot EOW issues lookout notices for Swaminarayan Swamis in new ₹3.04 cr fraud case

Updated: Sep 12th, 2024

Swaminarayan Swamis lookout

New details in the case of fraud amounting to ₹3.04 crore involving the purchase of land for building a cowshed and a grand temple in Limb village of Aravalli’s Bayad taluka have now emerged, as the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in Rajkot has issued lookout notices against the four accused Swamis of the Swaminarayan sect.

The EOW has undertaken this step in light of the potential threat of the Swamis fleeing the country.

According to EOW sources, the lookout notices were issued on September 4. However, authorities are still uncertain whether the accused Swamis are in India or have already left the country.

In connection with the case, the EOW has already arrested three individuals: Lalji Dhola, a teacher from Surat, Bhupendra Patel from Pimplaj village in Gandhinagar, and Vijaysinh Chauhan from Limb village itself.

The trio is currently under police remand, as the authorities investigate the amount of money they received from the fraudulent transaction.

Further investigations have revealed that out of the four Swamis named in the Rajkot case, three have been involved in multiple fraud cases across Gujarat.

Madhavpriya, also known as MP Swami, has cases registered against him, including a ₹75.50 lakh fraud in Viramgam town and a complaint in Surat’s Uttran police station related to interest-based dealings.

Similarly, Jaykrishna, known as JK Swami, faces two complaints in Surat, one for a ₹1.34 crore fraud in Varachha and another ₹1.34 crore fraud case lodged with the Surat Crime Branch.

Another accused, Devprakash Swami, alias Darshanpriya Swami, has been named in a fraud case worth ₹3.22 crore in Anand.

The EOW continues its probe into recovering the defrauded amounts and tracking the whereabouts of the Swamis involved.

Gujarat