Vrindavan disciple death mystery: Grinder found in room, deleted chats under police scanner
PTC Web Desk: The death of a disciple of Sant Premanand Maharaj in Vrindavan has raised several questions, even as the police are currently treating the case as suicide.
Deepak Lodhi, who came to be known as Rashik Dulari Sharan after taking initiation from Sant Premanand Maharaj around two years ago, died after falling from the fourth floor terrace of the Guru Kripa Kunj ashram on Friday morning.
The police are now examining what happened in the minutes before his fall. A grinder found inside his room, an injury to his private part and possible deleted material from his mobile phone are among the issues being investigated.
CCTV shows his final movements
The incident took place at around 10.30 am on Friday. According to CCTV footage examined by the police, Rashik Sharan came out of his room at around 10.25 am. His clothes appeared to have blood stains. He stayed outside the room for some time before moving from the third floor to the terrace on the fourth floor.
The footage reportedly shows him sitting on the terrace. He was later seen lying on the ground for around 10 seconds before getting up. At about 10.36 am, he jumped from the terrace.
He suffered serious injuries and was taken to a nearby private hospital, where doctors declared him dead. A video showing the fall was later circulated on social media on Sunday.
Based on the CCTV footage, the police have so far treated the incident as suicide. However, investigators are looking closely at the events that took place before the fall.
Grinder found inside his room
The police have also recovered a grinder from the room where Sharan was staying. Investigators have also found details relating to an injury to his private part. The police have not yet established how or why the injury occurred before his death.
Vrindavan Circle Officer Sandeep Kumar Singh said the reason for the injury would become clear only after the investigation is completed.
The police have taken possession of the CCTV cameras as part of the investigation. Sharan's blood sample has also been sent for forensic examination.
Mobile phone sent for forensic examination
The investigation is also looking at Sharan's digital activity before his death. His mobile phone has been sent to a forensic laboratory for data recovery. The police are checking whether photographs, videos, chats or other information were deleted from the device before his death.
Investigators are also trying to determine whether any deleted material can be recovered and whether it could provide information about his final hours.
The police have questioned people staying at the ashram as well as others who were with or around Sharan. So far, officials have said they have not found a clear reason for the suspected suicide.
According to the police officer, the post-mortem examination attributed the death to excessive bleeding.
Meanwhile, the case has also led to calls from saints in Vrindavan for a detailed investigation.
A meeting of saints was held in the city, where participants demanded that the circumstances surrounding Sharan's death be thoroughly examined.
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- With inputs from agencies
