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{{Orphan|date=May 2020}}
{{update|date=December 2015}}

{{EngvarB|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}

'''Ashok Jadeja''' (born 1 June 1974),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-06-02/ahmedabad/28181534_1_police-station-complaints-ashok-jadeja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024093700/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-06-02/ahmedabad/28181534_1_police-station-complaints-ashok-jadeja |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 October 2012 |title=Many may stake claim to Ayurveda doc |date=2 June 2009 |work=[[The Times of India]] |accessdate=21 December 2015}}</ref> popularly known as Ashok Maadi and Mataji Ashok, is a self-proclaimed '[[Godman (Hindu ascetic)|Godman]]',<ref name="news.oneindia.in">{{cite web|url=http://news.oneindia.in/2009/06/04/godman-jadeja-rasaleela-caught-on-tape.html |title=Godman Jadeja's 'rasaleela' caught on tape |publisher=News.oneindia.in |date=4 June 2009 |accessdate=21 December 2015}}</ref> who has been accused of swindling money from thousands of people from across India by claiming to have the divine blessings of a [[goddess]] of a local [[caste]] in [[Ahmedabad]].<ref name=indianexpress1>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/conman-jadeja-admits-he-has-no-godly-powers/493334/0 |title=Conman Jadeja admits he has no godly powers |work=The Indian Express|date=24 July 2009 |accessdate=21 December 2015}}</ref>

==Method==
Jadeja would sit outside the [[Shikotar Mata|Shikoter Mataji]] temple in [[Ahmedabad]] and tell people that if they kept their money with him, the goddess would make them wealthy. His initial targets were women known to be followers of the goddess [[Vahanvati Mata|Vahanwati Sikotar Mataji]]. Claiming divine powers, he would invite them to participate in religious rituals and then lure them into contributing whatever they could. In order to gain his target's confidence, Jadeja would initially pay back three times the amount given to him. Reports initially suggested he accumulated more than twenty [[crore]] in three [[States and territories of India|States of India]] with the help of approximately thirty-five accomplices.<ref name="news.oneindia.in"/> This amount changed to thousands of crores which was given to accomplices and used to purchase gold and real estate investments in [[Gujarat]] and neighboring areas.<ref name="rmdhar.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.rmdhar.com/index.php/2009/06/07/i-will-treble-your-money/ |title=I will treble your money!! |publisher=Rmdhar.com |date=7 June 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606233409/http://www.rmdhar.com/index.php/2009/06/07/i-will-treble-your-money/ |archivedate=6 June 2011 |accessdate=21 December 2015}}</ref>

==Arrest and aftermath==
He was arrested on 31 May 2009 with his wife Neeta and Rs. 19.8 million. On 3 June 2009, ten relatives were apprehended by police from the [[Kunwara]] village in the [[Patan, Gujarat|Patan]] district of North Gujarat for their alleged involvement with his scheme.

On 10 June 2009, a local court in Gujarat granted the criminal investigation department permission to conduct a [[drug test|narco test]] on Jadeja. Police officials from neighboring [[Rajasthan]], [[Maharashtra]] and other parts of the country came to Gujarat to interrogate him and his associates. On 24 July 2009, Jadeja admitted that he had no godly or mystical powers. In addition, he also revealed that some policemen and [[rum-running|bootleggers]] had also benefited from his "money-multiplying scheme". He stated that he personally earned Rs 200 million and that many others had made more than him.<ref name=indianexpress1 /> Restoration of the funds to the victims is unlikely.<ref name="rmdhar.com"/>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jadeja, Ashok}}
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Ahmedabad]]

Ashok Jadeja - Revision history

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