News Analysis India

Tag: Niranjani akhada

  • Narendra Giri suicide case: Two disciples seek HC permission to withdraw case

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: The sensational suicide case of Narendra Giri, the late president of Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad (ABAP) — a conglomerate of 13 monastic orders of Sanatan Dharma, has taken a crucial turn when Amar Giri, the manager of Bade Hanumanji temple of Prayagraj and member of Niranjani Akhada along with Pawan Maharaj of Baghambari Gaddi Muthh moved Allahabad High Court seeking permission to initiate legal proceedings to end the case.

    Both Amar Giri and Pawan Maharaj are the disciples of the late ABAP president. They had lodged an FIR in connection with the alleged suicide of Narendra Giri.

    Now they have filed their respective affidavits in Allahabad High Court seeking permission to move an application before the trial court to withdraw their FIR.

    However, the current president of ABAP Ravindra Puri, on Saturday, said that the FIR filed in connection with case of Narendra Giri’s death would not be withdrawn though the complainants — Amar Giri and Pawan Maharaj—had moved the application to seek Allahabad High Court permission to initiate legal formalities to end the case.

    Ravindra Pauri said that he would be visiting Prayagraj on August 16 and convince Amar Giri not to withdraw the FIR.

    The ABAP president said that when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the state government were probing the case of the suicide of Mahant Narendra Giri there was no question of withdrawing the FIR.

    Notably, both Amar Giri and Pawan Maharaj had claimed in their respective affidavits submitted in High Court that they had only informed the police about the death of Mahant Narendra Giri at Baghambari Ashram in Prayagraj and did not name anyone as accused.

    Their application is being seen as an effort to help Anand Giri, the former disciple and the main accused in the case pertaining to the death of Narendra Giri, secure bail and come out of jail. Anand Giri, the amin accused in the case is lodged in Naini Central Jail.

    Meanwhile, Amar Giri said on Saturday that he wanted to withdraw the FIR just because his name was being unnecessarily dragged in the entire incident whereas he had not named anyone and did not want any innocent person to be punished.

    Earlier, the High Court had adjourned the hearing of the bail application of Anand Giri, the estranged disciple of the late Mahant and key accused in his suicide case, till August 18.

    On September 20, 2021, Mahant Narendra Giri was found hanging from the ceiling of his room at Shri Math Baghambari Gaddi in the Georgetown police station area of Prayagraj.

    In his suicide note, the Mahant had charged Anand Giri and two others with mental harassment. An FIR was lodged against the three accused under Section 306 (abetment to suicide) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Georgetown police station.

    Subsequently, Anand Giri and two others were arrested. They were produced before the court of the chief judicial magistrate (CJM) on September 22 and remanded to judicial custody for 14 days.

    Later, on the recommendation of the state government, the investigation was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

    After 60 days of investigation, the CBI submitted charge sheet on November 20, 2021, stating that Narendra Giri was under “grave mental trauma” because of his estranged disciple Anand Giri and two others that he ended his life to “avoid defamation and insult”.

    On November 11, the special judge rejected the bail application of Anand Giri saying that as per the case diary, the witnesses had, by and large, supported the prosecution.

    LUCKNOW: The sensational suicide case of Narendra Giri, the late president of Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad (ABAP) — a conglomerate of 13 monastic orders of Sanatan Dharma, has taken a crucial turn when Amar Giri, the manager of Bade Hanumanji temple of Prayagraj and member of Niranjani Akhada along with Pawan Maharaj of Baghambari Gaddi Muthh moved Allahabad High Court seeking permission to initiate legal proceedings to end the case.

    Both Amar Giri and Pawan Maharaj are the disciples of the late ABAP president. They had lodged an FIR in connection with the alleged suicide of Narendra Giri.

    Now they have filed their respective affidavits in Allahabad High Court seeking permission to move an application before the trial court to withdraw their FIR.

    However, the current president of ABAP Ravindra Puri, on Saturday, said that the FIR filed in connection with case of Narendra Giri’s death would not be withdrawn though the complainants — Amar Giri and Pawan Maharaj—had moved the application to seek Allahabad High Court permission to initiate legal formalities to end the case.

    Ravindra Pauri said that he would be visiting Prayagraj on August 16 and convince Amar Giri not to withdraw the FIR.

    The ABAP president said that when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the state government were probing the case of the suicide of Mahant Narendra Giri there was no question of withdrawing the FIR.

    Notably, both Amar Giri and Pawan Maharaj had claimed in their respective affidavits submitted in High Court that they had only informed the police about the death of Mahant Narendra Giri at Baghambari Ashram in Prayagraj and did not name anyone as accused.

    Their application is being seen as an effort to help Anand Giri, the former disciple and the main accused in the case pertaining to the death of Narendra Giri, secure bail and come out of jail. Anand Giri, the amin accused in the case is lodged in Naini Central Jail.

    Meanwhile, Amar Giri said on Saturday that he wanted to withdraw the FIR just because his name was being unnecessarily dragged in the entire incident whereas he had not named anyone and did not want any innocent person to be punished.

    Earlier, the High Court had adjourned the hearing of the bail application of Anand Giri, the estranged disciple of the late Mahant and key accused in his suicide case, till August 18.

    On September 20, 2021, Mahant Narendra Giri was found hanging from the ceiling of his room at Shri Math Baghambari Gaddi in the Georgetown police station area of Prayagraj.

    In his suicide note, the Mahant had charged Anand Giri and two others with mental harassment. An FIR was lodged against the three accused under Section 306 (abetment to suicide) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Georgetown police station.

    Subsequently, Anand Giri and two others were arrested. They were produced before the court of the chief judicial magistrate (CJM) on September 22 and remanded to judicial custody for 14 days.

    Later, on the recommendation of the state government, the investigation was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

    After 60 days of investigation, the CBI submitted charge sheet on November 20, 2021, stating that Narendra Giri was under “grave mental trauma” because of his estranged disciple Anand Giri and two others that he ended his life to “avoid defamation and insult”.

    On November 11, the special judge rejected the bail application of Anand Giri saying that as per the case diary, the witnesses had, by and large, supported the prosecution.

  • Mahakumbh: 50 sadhus test Covid positive, akhadas divided over duration of mega event

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: At least 50 sadhus from various religious akhadas, who are camping in Haridwar for the Mahakumbh, have tested positive for Covid on Friday. 

    The seers who tested positive include Mahant Ravindra Puri, secretary of Niranjani Akhada. On Thursday, Puri announced that the akhada will consider the closure of the mega event on April 17 from their side. 

    However, voices of the dispute have emerged from religious leaders of the 13 akhadas as well as a disciple of Shankaracharya. 

    Swami Avimukteshwaranand, the disciple of Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati, said, “There is no question of the Kumbh ending before the decided date (April 30). The Mahakumbh is not something that you pull out of your pocket and then put back as you please. This is an event that is based on astrological calculations. Covid behaviour will be followed while the Kumbh goes on.”

    President of Nirmohi Akhada, Rajendra Das, warned that his akhada will break away from Akhada Parishad. “Any announcement of concluding the Mahakumbh before the date is unacceptable. Those who said such things are the ones who are responsible for the spread of Covid 19 the most. They should apologize for their behaviour and statement,” added Das. 

    On Thursday, the secretary of Niranjani akhada Ravindra Puri announced that given the Covid situation the akhada have decided to announce the conclusion of the mega event on April 17. 

    However, the final decision will be taken by Akhada Parishad, the apex body of 13 akhadas. 

    The president of the Akhara Parishad Mahant Narendra Giri is battling Covid and has been admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh. Interestingly, Giri is also associated with the Niranjani Akhara.

    Commenting on the issue, Subodh Uniyal, state cabinet minister and spokesperson for the government said, “The decision to announce conclusion by an akhada is the decision of that particular akhada. The government has nothing to do with it. But we are keeping an eye on the situation and if the need arises decision will be taken to save lives.”

    The number of cases in the mela area reached over 2,800. Officials in charge of the mela area said that more than 1.2 lakh tests have been conducted in the Kumbh mela area to date. 

    Total 2,838 cases were detected in six days — from April 10 to April 16 — in the mela area. With a positivity rate of around 2%, 339 cases were detected on April 16, 332 cases on April 15, 525 cases on April 14, 594 on April 13, 408 on April 12, 386 on April 11, and 254 on April 10 in the mela area.

    Meanwhile, sadhus from camps of all 13 akhadas have started leaving the mela area given the pandemic situation and important Shahi Snan events have concluded without any hassle. 

    “Seers and saints are leaving as most important Shah Snan events have been attended by all of them. However, there are chances that many of them will come back for the last Shahi Snan of April 27,” said a member of one of the 13 akhadas.  

  • Mahakumbh: Niranjani Akhada says close Kumbh, apex body yet to decide

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: With Mahakumbh termed as a ‘Super Spreader’ of Covid-19, Shri Panchayati Niranjani Akhada, one of the 13 prime akhadas, on Thursday announced the conclusion of the mega event on April 17. 

    However, the final decision will be taken by the apex body of the 13 akhadas — Akhada Parishad. 

    Ravindra Puri Maharaj, secretary of the Niranjani Akhada said, “Given the Covid pandemic situation in Haridwar and many seers testing positive, we have decided to end of the Kumbh Mela. With the Shahi Snan of April 27, a few seers will complete the ritual. 

    “However, the final decision to end the Mahakumbh is to be taken by Akhada Parishad and we have requested the same.”

    The mega event, which has already been curbed to one month from four months, raised eyebrows worldwide given the spike in Covid cases in India.

    As many as 2,269 cases were detected in the mela area in five days (from April 10 to 15). 

    ALSO READ | Mahakumbh: Scores flout Covid norms as 35 lakh assemble in Haridwar for Shahi Snan

    With a positivity rate of around 2%, 102 cases were detected on April 15, 525 cases were detected on April 14, 594 on April 13, 408 on April 12, 386 on April 11, and 254 on April 10 in the mela area of ongoing Mahakumbh.

    Arjun Sengar, medical in-charge of the meal area said, “We are conducting Covid tests at 100 points which include antigen and RT-PCR tests. More than 1 lakh tests have been conducted in the mela area between April 10 and April 15.”

    Over 50 lakh pilgrims are said to attend the mega religious event.

    Total 18 seers/saints from different religious akhadas have also tested positive to date. One Swami Kapil Devdas, Mahamandaleshwar of Nirvani Akahada died of Covid in a private hospital on April 13. 

    Officials from the state health department said the majority of seers/saints are not in favor of getting tested making it a difficult task.

    The hill state saw 2,220 Covid cases on Thursday. Out of these, the maximum cases were detected in Dehradun district (914) followed by Haridwar (613) and Nainital (156). Nine persons died of Covid in the state on the day.