‘Cheater’ priest evading multiple court summons

Vadodara: The priest of Shri Baglamukhi Brahmastra Vidya Mandir Dr Prashant Upadhyay is on run not only to evade arrest in the recent cases of cheating and criminal intimidation, but also to avoid appearing in a trial of a case registered against him and six others in 2015.
Upadhyay and his aides had thrashed an insurance agent Pragnesh Shah at his temple in Warasia in August 2015.
Shah had once gone to the temple to offer prayers as his relationship with his wife had soured and they were living separately. He was advised by Upadhyay to divorce his wife.
Upadhyay promised to get him married to anyone of his woman followers and was asked to transfer the ownership of his house to the temple trust. However, Shah was not convinced by the idea. A month later, when Shah was passing by the same temple, another priest of the temple asked him to attend a mass sermon at Gotri. Shah was forcibly taken where he had asked questions related to Ramayan and human virtues which were not taken in a good taste.
Next day, Upadhyay called Shah to express his displeasure about the questions and asked him to come over. On August 10, 2015, when Shah went to meet Upadhyay with his friend, an argument ensued and Upadhyay’s aides thrashed him with sticks injuring him.
Shah had then registered a complaint of assault and criminal intimidation at City police station.
The police completed investigation within a month and had filed chargesheet against Upadhyay, his aides Harshal alias Hari Om Mistry, Kinjal Vyas, Dharmesh Vyas, Annama George, Rashmika Upadhyay and Unnati Joshi.
A court of additional chief judicial magistrate has been issuing summons to the accused to appear before the court but in last over four years the case has hardly moved. On Thursday too, the case was listed but as no accused appeared the court adjourned the hearing for April 15.