Akhara Parishad chief found dead in Prayagraj

Chief of Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad Mahant Narendra Giri was found dead in Prayagraj on Monday evening. The body was found hanging from a rope inside a room in the Baghambari Mutt in Daraganj. The body, presently in police custody, shall be sent for post-mortem. Though prima facie a case of suicide, only a further probe can pinpoint the cause of death, the police informed.

The Mutt, under heavy security, is inaccessible to the media. Though several disciples gathered, they too have been prevented entry. The disciples have insisted that there is some foul play, for they refuse to believe that the saint died by suicide.

Giri, the chief of the apex body of 14 akharas, was involved in a bitter property dispute with his junior Anand Giri a few months ago. Though the police refused to confirm, sources said that a five-page suicide note had been recovered. Giri has allegedly held one of his disciples responsible for his death.

Giri replaced Mahant Gyan Das as chief of Akhara Parishad in March 2016. Mahant refused to cede ground to Giri though the electoral process replacing Gyan Das was conducted in 2015. Das was allegedly facing charges of criminal activities and objectionable behaviour. He has about half a dozen criminal cases of attempt to murder, loot, dacoity and economic offences registered against him in Ayodhya and Allahabad. Most of them were filed by the sadhus of the Akhara Parishad.