Gujarat’s state government has filed a police complaint against a Swaminaryan saint belonging to Sokha, allegedly for his involvement in embezzlement of funds to the tune of over Rs 32.26 crores in Atmiya University in Rajkot.
The saint in question, Tyagvallabh Swami, aka Vinubhai Patel, has applied for anticipatory bail, following the complaint.
Barkol-based Pavitra Harshadarai Jani filed a complaint against Tyagvallabh Swami, Dharmesh Jivani, his wife Vaishakhiben Jivani and Nilesh Makwana of Rajkot’s Atmiya University for embezzlement of crores.
Tyagvallabh Swami is one of the trustees of the autonomous university that manages Sarvodaya Kelavani Mandal Trust. The trust is accused of siphoning off funds to the tune of Rs 33 crores. The money has reportedly been transferred to ghost accounts of employees.
Further, it’s alleged that an employee of Saurashtra University called Samir Kaushik Vaidya had an association with Tyagvallabh Swami.
Tyagvallabh Swami, along with another Swaminarayan saint, Premdas Swami, allegedly created 20 bank accounts. He is believed to have deposited crores in these accounts by selling lands he doesn’t own.
Of the 20 bank accounts, nine have been opened in the name of four women Swaminarayan devotees, believed to be close to the saints, who are allegedly involved in six land-related frauds in Gujarat.
Tyagvallabh Swami and Premdas Swami have reportedly purchased swathes of land in Asoj in Vadodara by faking documents. The police will also be investing their land deals in Dashrat, Moksi and Sokhda villages.
Many Haribhaktas, hurt when the swami’s name was linked to the scandal, said he behaved against the principles of Shikshapatri, a religious text written in Sanskrit, consisting of 212 verses.
Saints usually don’t acquire properties. Tyagvallabh Swami has apparently bought two properties in his name.
The saint’s bail application will be heard on Monday in Rajkot by a lower court.
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