The CBI has charged three accused persons, including Anand Giri, with Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections relating to abetment to suicide and criminal conspiracy in connection with the alleged suicide of Mahant Narendra Giri, the head of the top body of saints and sadhus Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad (ABAP) who was found hanging in his ashram in Prayagraj district of Uttar Pradesh in September.
Besides Anand, who was Narendra Giri’s disciple, priest of Bade Hanuman Temple Adya Prasad Tiwari and his son Sandeep Tiwari have also been named in the CBI’s chargesheet filed before a special court in Prayagraj.
In his suicide note, Narendra Giri had named the trio accusing them of mentally harassing him, following which the police filed an FIR for alleged abetment of suicide.
The three accused are currently undergoing judicial custody. They were arrested barely 24 hours after Narendra Giri’s death.
Subsequently, the CBI took over the case on the recommendation of the UP Government, 48 hours after the death of the top seer.
During the probe, the CBI had recovered tapes of conversations between the accused and sought a forensic examination of the same. The agency has also moved the court to record voice samples from Anand Giri and the other accused for comparing them with the recovered tapes. However, the accused had refused to grant consent for recording of their voice.
In September, the police said Narendra Giri had recorded a video on his mobile phone, an hour before his alleged suicide, in which he said he feared Anand Giri wanted to make a morphed photo of him with a woman, and that his disciple wanted to shame him.
Police said the video allegations match the 13-page suicide note found near his body. Police also said in the note that Narendra Giri accused all three accused of blackmailing him and mentioned that he was depressed.
Anand Giri, was the number two saint in the ashram hierarchy, had been expelled by Narendra Giri earlier this year over allegations of financial fraud and irregularities. However, Anand Giri was later forgiven by his mentor.
Following the incident, a video that surfaced showed Anand Giri seeking forgiveness from his mentor. But soon accusations of blackmail resurfaced.
Soon after ABAP chief Mahant Narendra Giri’s death, reports of his disciple’s flashy lifestyle, including skydiving trips to Australia and driving Lamborghini sports cars at a race track, surfaced in the media.
Anand Giri had earlier denied his role in the death of his mentor alleging a conspiracy “by people who used to extort money from Narendra Giri”.
In a clear sign of the national stature of the Mahant, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and a host of other political leaders were among those who tweeted their condolences for Narendra Giri’s death.