PRAFUL VAGHELA (FATHER OF DEEPESH).

▮ Identity sealed · POCSO §23

Family member

Ahmedabad, Gujarat

“Praful Vaghela is the father of Deepesh Vaghela who has spent over fifteen years fighting for a CBI probe into the 2008 gurukul deaths. Vaghela rejected the judicial commission's findings, accusing the ashram of administrative cover-ups.”

Praful Vaghela is an Ahmedabad resident who had been a follower of Asaram Bapu, choosing to enroll his 10-year-old son Deepesh in the Motera gurukul. Following the mysterious disappearance and death of his son in July 2008, Vaghela turned against the organization, dedicating his life to seeking an independent investigation into the tragedy.

Vaghela led the public protests in Ahmedabad, staging sit-ins and hunger strikes to demand a CBI investigation. He accused the Gujarat Police of deliberately protecting the ashram authorities due to the political influence of Asaram Bapu. Vaghela testified before the Trivedi Commission, presenting arguments that the boys had been murdered and that the ashram had covered up evidence.

When the commission's report was tabled in 2019 clearing Asaram Bapu, Vaghela rejected the findings, describing them as a political cover-up. He continued his legal battle in the courts, filing appeals to challenge the CID charge sheets and demand a federal probe. However, in early 2025, the sessions court rejected his final plea for a CBI investigation.

Despite the legal setbacks and the passage of fifteen years, Vaghela remains committed to seeking justice, regularly participating in public forums to raise awareness of the case. His long-term struggle has been documented in investigative journalism as a key example of the challenges faced by families confronting powerful religious institutions. He continues to reside in Ahmedabad.