U.S. Justice Department Ends Investigation Into BAPS Temple Project

ROBBINSVILLE, NJ -The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha in the United States has welcomed the decision of the US Department of Justice and the US Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey to close their investigation into BAPS, along with the creation of BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, the organization said on September 18.

In 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI, and other federal and state authorities investigated the institution regarding allegations of labor exploitation and human trafficking at its temple here. 

A raid was conducted as part of an investigation into a civil lawsuit filed against BAPS on behalf of more than 200 Indian nationals. The workers claimed they were lured from India, held in servitude, and paid as little as $1.20 per hour for backbreaking labor.

According to BAPS, the decision now sends a clear message supporting what it has maintained from the beginning—that Swaminarayan Akshardham, a place of peace, service, and devotion, was built through the dedication and volunteer efforts of thousands of devotees from all walks of life.

BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, it said, stands as a lasting symbol of how the community has become part of the fabric of the nation.

The organization acknowledged that the period had been challenging, but credited the grace of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and the blessings of its spiritual leader, Mahant Swami Maharaj, for helping the fellowship emerge with renewed strength and deepened faith. (ANI)