Almost a decade-year-old case of sexual abuse and rape has shaken Gujarat to its core. 

On June 8, a 23-year-old woman working at a clinic has lodged a complaint at Vadodara’s Wadi Police Station that in 2016,  a priest of Wadi Swaminarayan Temple, associated with Vadtal, sect had raped her.

As per the complaint, it all began in 2014 when Jagat Pawan Swami, the then Kathori Swami of Wadi Swaminarayan temple used to stare at the survivor when she was studying in Class 10 and visited the temple.

At that time, Kathori Swami called around 10.30 pm in the survivor’s father’s mobile. Swami and the survivor used to chat through WhatsApp on her father’s phone.

On Sept 10, 2016, JP Swami asked the survivor to visit a room of the temple at night. Swami raped her in his room and threatened to kill her entire family if she will disclose the matter to anyone.

Later, Swami also blackmailed her and asked her to send obscene pictures and videos of her, to which she obliged under pressure.

Shockingly, a day after he raped her, Swami went to give her contraceptive pill. As per his instructions, the survivor took the pill.

The survivor and complainant who lodged an FIR after eight years said, “I did not tell about this to my parents as Swami had my obscene videos and photos. I did not complain as I lacked the source. My parents are unaware of this complaint.”

Wadi Police Station has lodged the complaint and is investigating the case.

According to reports, JP Swami discontinued contacting the survivor after his transfer from Wadi on Nov 30, 2019.

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