New Delhi, Oct 14 (IANS): Jagadguru Kripalu Ji Maharaj and organisations functioning under his guidance have denied any connection with Swami Prakashanand Saraswati who has been declared a criminal in America, his trust said in a statement here.

Reacting to some media reports, the Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat-Shyama Shyam Dham said the guru is strictly against the practice of making disciples.

"Maharaj Ji has never ever made disciples and has never given initiation to anyone," it added.

"It is to be noted that Prakashanand Saraswati is a disciple of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Brahmanand Saraswati (a sanyasi). Jagadguru Kripalu Ji Maharaj is a family man and is a Vaishnava," the statement added.

"The above statement is stated by Jagadguru Kripalu Ji Maharaj's trust in reaction to news published in a newspaper which says that Swami Prakashanand Saraswati, wanted in a case in America, is related to Jagadguru Kripalu Ji Maharaj," it said.

According to reports, Swami Prakashanand Saraswati was sentenced on 20 counts of indecent behaviour with children by a county court in Texas March 2011. The octogenarian was sentenced in absentia to 14 years on each count. But he jumped bail and forfeited the $1.2 million bond. US marshals are still looking for him.

According to the trust, several people in India and abroad claim to be their guru's disciples, impressed by his actions and his "irrefutable devotion towards god".

"Under such circumstances, creating a misconception and thereby deluding the public by saying that a wanted criminal is his disciple or associated with any of the trusts functioning under his guidance, is definitely a condemnable action," the trust said.