Fake currency case: Bhavnagar SoG arrests Swaminarayan saint

Bhavnagar

Special Operation Group(SoG) Bhavnagar Police has arrested Swaminarayan sect’s sadhu Akshar Prakash Swami in connection with fake currency case.

Akshar Prakash belongs to Dhasa based Swaminarayan Gurukul(residential school) which is located in Bhavnagar district. Gurukul students are asked to go on leave for a few days following arrest of Akshar Prakash.

Akshar Prakash has been in news in past for allegedly beating up Gugukul students. It is believed that he had political ambitions too. Police is yet to share details on his exact role in fake currency racket. Swami covered his face with saffron cloth he was wearing when photographers/video cameramen went to capture his arrest.

The case is about recovery of 385 fake currency notes of Rs. 500 from Bharatnagar area of Bhavnagar. Bhavnagar Police Special Operation Group had arrested five with these fake currency notes on March 24. Main accused Bhupat Popatbhai had printed these notes at his home by using color printer, computer, scanner and editing software. He had earned Rs. 25,000 through dealing into fake currency notes. Police had also seized 3 bikes, 6 mobile phones and taken the accused on remand.

Updates: According to police, Swami had purchased Rs. 3 lakh worth of fake currency notes by paying Rs. 1.50 lakh real currency. However Swami later found that the notes couldn’t be circulated as they were easily identified as fake notes. He returned fake notes of Rs. 2 lakh and asked main accused to take back another Rs. 1 lakh fake notes after returning Rs. 1.5 lakh that he was paid. When main accused was caught by police, Swami put Rs. 1 lakh fake currency notes he was possessing in fire to destroyed them.

-DeshGujarat