Vadtal: Over hundreds of devotees from various places, including Surat, Garhda, Rajkot, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Junagadh, Bhavnagar, and Bharuch, gathered at Vadtal Swaminarayan Temple today to protest against three monks accused of rape in Vadodara and unnatural acts in Gadhda. They expressed their demand for strict action against these sadhus and their imprisonment. When devotees attempted to submit an application at the Kothari office, they found no monks or saints present, so they submitted it to the administrative staff instead. Finally, the devotees held a silent rally around the temple with banners and placards, chanting Swaminarayan hymns, after which they departed from Vadtal.

One of the devotees stated, “We have come from Surat to appeal to the Board of Directors Committee in Vadtal. In Vadodara and Garhda, within the dominions of Vadtal, disturbing acts are being committed by monks. One monk committed misconduct with a minor, while another was involved in inappropriate behavior with a child in the bathroom. Three monks from a Vadodara temple molested a girl and threatened her into silence. The administration at Vadtal Temple has failed to control the saints of the Swaminarayan sect. Rakesh Prasad and even the current president of the Mahasabha are ineffective. They are mere figureheads, while the real culprits operate behind the scenes. We have come to Vadtal to demand legal action against these monks involved in such crimes. We demand their imprisonment and justice for the victims. The administrators here, including the chairman, seem clueless about the situation. They possess assets worth 500–1000 crores in Surat, while they fight over a single rupee here. Our demand is for stringent punishment for all involved. If justice is not served, we may resort to further measures.”

One devotee said that these monks have disgraced the Swaminarayan sect. We stand united to expel these monks from our sect. They must reform or face expulsion. Devotees from Mumbai, Surat, Bharuch, Bhavnagar, Junagadh, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Amreli have all come together for this cause.

A complaint has been filed with Wadi Police in which the victim alleges that Jagat Prakash Swami, the Kothari Swami of the Wadi Swaminarayan temple in Vadtal, allegedly raped her in 2016. The victim stated that in 2016, when she was 14 years old, she received a call from Jagat Prakash Swamy, which turned obscene. Later, he started calling her every day, and one day, on the pretext of gifting her a watch, Swami lured her into the room beneath the Wadi temple and forcibly raped her. She also stated that she and her family threatened not to disclose the incident.

The victim leveled accusations not only against Jagat Pawan Swami but also against other senior priests linked to the temple. Swamy, KP Swamy, and JP Swamy purportedly established a social media group where they participated in group video calls, which frequently involved inappropriate behavior.

Upon finally approaching the Wadi police station to file an FIR, the victim encountered inquiries regarding the delay of eight years. She clarified that, at the age of 14, her complaints would not have been taken seriously. Now, at 23, she felt driven to pursue justice. The police have registered a case under the POSCO Act and are investigating the matter.