The CID (Crime) has arrested Vijay Prakash Swami (V P Swami), the chief accused in a major land fraud case involving a Rs3 crore extortion scheme to solicit investments for the purchase of land meant for both a temple and a cow shelter.
In connection with this fraud, four monks from the Vadtal Swaminarayan sect, along with a farmer and four others, were charged. The charges stem from a complaint lodged at Rajkot’s Bhaktinagar Police Station in September 2024, accusing the group of defrauding people of Rs3.04 crore.
The accused, including Jaykrushna Swami, M P Swami, Suresh Thori, Bhupendra Patel, Vijsinh, and Lalji Dhola, allegedly misled investors under the pretense of purchasing land for a temple and cow shelter. However, they failed to honor their commitments, leading to financial loss for the victims.
As the investigation unfolded, Lalji Dhola was arrested by the Rajkot Economic Offences Wing in Surat for not paying the required amount for the land. On Tuesday, V P Swami was apprehended by the CID, and he will be presented in Rajkot court for remand on Wednesday.
This arrest follows a previous fraud case in which four monks were implicated in a Rs1.76 crore scam involving farmers and landowners. The case has drawn significant public attention due to the involvement of religious figures and their breach of trust.
