A day after Mahant Narendra Giri was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his residence at Baghambari Math in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, a Special Investigation Team has been constituted on the instruction of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to investigate the case.
The 18-member SIT will be headed by Ajit Singh Chauhan, circle officer. It also includes four inspectors, three sub-inspectors and other police personnel. The team will probe the mysterious death of the Mahant form various angles.
On Monday, CM Yogi paid tribute to the Mahant along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several noted personalities where he assured that no stone will be left unturned in the probe into the death case of the saint.
Earlier in the day, a suicide note, purportedly written by the Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad President, had come to fore.
The handwritten note running into almost 6 pages, reveals that the seer was deeply disturbed but does not mention clearly the incidents that drove him to take the extreme step.
"The Mahant has not said anything about the specific incidents regarding these three, that upset him so much. We are interrogating all three separately to ascertain the reasons that disturbed the late saint," said a senior police official.
The police are being extremely cautious in revealing the details of the suicide note in view of the sensitivity of the case.
Moreover, the veracity of the note has also been questioned because people close to the saint have said that he was not adept in writing beyond a sentence or two.
The note is also a will of sorts because it mentions the Mahant's wishes about his succession.
"The letter is being sent for forensic examination and we will match samples with his handwriting," the police official said.
According to the police, the names of the successors of the Math and the Akhara have also been written in this suicide note but the contents have not been disclosed as yet.
Along with this, some things have also been written about "respect and humiliation".
The Mahant wrote that he had lived his life with respect and dignity and could no longer bear the humiliation. The note was lying on the bed near the Mahant's body.
According to sources, the Mahant also video recorded a message that is now in the possession of the police. The 4-minute video only says what the suicide note has stated.
Meanwhile, the UP Police have detained Swami Anand and some others in connection with the case and interrogation is continuing. However, Even Anand Giri has said that the suicide note has been "planted" to implicate him.
With IANS Inputs