Warasia priest denied anticipatory bail

Vadodara: The sessions court on Monday denied anticipatory bail to priest of Shri Baglamukhi Brahmastra Vidya Mandir in Warasia in connection with a cheating case.
Priest Dr Prashant Upadhyay, who has been accused of cheating a businessman of Rs 21.8 lakh, had moved bail application pleading innocence. Upadhyay claimed the complainant Devraj Pandya had filed a false case against him as he is a naturopath practitioner in Warasia and offers service to the temple. Upadhyay’s lawyer also questioned the timing of the complaint as the offence had taken place between 2013 and 2015. Additional public prosecutor told court that Upadhyay won’t cooperate in investigation if granted bail.
Investigating officer also submitted an affidavit in the court mentioning that prima facie evidence found against the priest which indicate that he had taken money from other people too.
Upadhyay had promised solutions to Pandya to recover from business losses and debts for which he took cash and gold worth Rs 21.8 lakh. Pandya was asked to keep a ‘yantra’ in his factory to recover from losses, but when nothing improved Pandya asked for refund of his money which the priest denied and threatened him.