Hindu guru convicted of molesting girls in US

[sandeepdg]

WASHINGTON: An octogenarian Hindu religious leader, head of a Hindu ashram, one of the largest temples in the US, has been convicted of molesting two young girls.

The girls, many of whose family members serve at the ashram 'Barsana Dham', a 200-acre Hindu ashram located in Austin. alleged that they were molested by Prakashanand Saraswati, who is known to his devotees as Shree Swamiji, when they grew up there in the mid-1990s.

His conviction at the ashram,, which attracts a large number of Hindu Americans from across the country every year, has sent shock waves among the community members.

"We are very disappointed with the verdict. We are certain that Swamiji is innocent. This is not the end of the legal process," said Aman Agrawal, spokesman of Barsana Dham.

The sentencing is scheduled for today. Convicted in all of the 20 counts, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years on each of the counts.

In their charges, two women Shyama Rose, 30, and Vesla Tonnessen Kazimer, 27, alleged that Prakashanand Saraswati tried to exploit them on numerous occasions over the course of several years, beginning when they were as young as 12.

The two lived in the campus of the ashram along with their other family members.

The charges by Rose and Kazimer against Prakashanand were first levied in April 2008 following which he was arrested.

He was later released on a USD 1 million bond. A third woman Kate Tonnessen, 31, too made similar allegations recently.

Barsana Dham was established by Prakashanand in 1990.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...molesting-girls-in-US/articleshow/7644917.cms

 

[sandeepdg]

Its good that he will receive severe punishment under US laws if he is found guilty. I think every second swami in India is involved in one or the other such crimes, and most buy their way out due to support of their stupid followers. Wish we too had an impartial justice system like the Americans.

 

[Rage]

Whether it's a Hindu guru, a Catholic padré or a Muslim maulana, nobody is above or beyond the law. That is what you'd expect in rule-of-law states.

 

[Singh]

This is not the first time Indian religious/spiritual leaders have been targeted in USA and he is an 80 year old fer chrissake. The American society is screwed up like that only.

 

[Oracle]

Rape can be proved, but how do you prove molestation if there are no photographic/video evidences? Are accusations enough?

 

[sandeepdg]

This guru may be an 80 year old man, but the girls alleged that they have been molested since they were 12 years old. Things like these are not uncommon here in India, but when such an incident occurs in US, it is bound to get high media coverage especially their local media. It can also be a cheap publicity stunt just to get some moments in the limelight by these girls or it can be the real thing. Nothing can be said until a thorough investigation is carried out.