A grinder found inside his room, an injury to his private part and CCTV footage showing a fatal jump from a fourth-floor terrace have added new questions to the investigation into the death of Sant Premanand Maharaj’s disciple in Uttar Pradesh’s Vrindavan.
Police are currently treating the death of Deepak Lodhi, also known as Rashik Dulari Sharan, as suicide. However, investigators are examining the events that occurred before his fall, including whether deleted chats, videos or other data from his mobile phone could provide clues about what happened.
Deepak Lodhi took initiation from Sant Premanand Maharaj around two years ago, after which he adopted the name Rashik Dulari Sharan. He died after jumping from the fourth floor of the Guru Kripa Kunj ashram in Vrindavan on Friday morning.
WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE FATAL JUMP
The incident occurred at around 10.30 am on Friday. According to CCTV footage reviewed by police, Rashik Sharan left his room at approximately 10.25 am.
His clothes appeared to have blood stains. He remained outside the room for some time before making his way from the third floor to the fourth-floor terrace.
He was then seen sitting on the terrace before lying on the ground for around 10 seconds. He suddenly stood up and, at about 10.36 am, jumped from the terrace.
He sustained severe head and body injuries and was rushed to a nearby private hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
A video showing him falling from the terrace was circulated on social media on Sunday.
The CCTV footage has led police to consider the death a suicide. However, investigators are now concentrating on what happened immediately before the jump.
GRINDER FOUND IN ROOM
The discovery of a grinder inside the room where Sharan was staying has emerged as another significant part of the investigation.
Police have said their probe has revealed information regarding an injury to his private part. However, the circumstances in which he sustained the injury before jumping from the building remain unknown.
Vrindavan Circle Officer Sandeep Kumar Singh said the reason for the injury could be determined only after the investigation is completed.
Police have taken possession of the CCTV cameras, while Sharan’s blood sample has also been sent for forensic testing.
DELETED CHATS, VIDEOS UNDER SCANNER
Investigators are also examining the digital evidence left behind by Sharan.
His mobile phone has been sent to a forensic laboratory to recover data. Police are checking whether he deleted photographs, videos, chats or other material before his death and whether any of the deleted information can be retrieved.
Investigators hope the forensic examination of the phone will help establish what led to his death.
Police have also questioned people residing at the ashram and those who were with Sharan or in his vicinity. So far, investigators have not identified a definite reason for the alleged suicide.
The post-mortem report attributed his death to excessive bleeding, the police officer said.
SAINTS DEMAND HIGH-LEVEL PROBE
The incident has prompted saints in Vrindavan to demand a high-level investigation.
A meeting of saints was held in Vrindavan, where they unanimously called for an inquiry into the death and demanded that the circumstances surrounding the incident be established.
Mahant Mohini Sharan Maharaj said the saint community condemned the incident. He questioned why Keli Kunj, where Sharan had been staying, had not issued a statement after his death and said the administration had also not ordered a high-level probe.
He called on the district administration to initiate a detailed investigation into the matter.
Mohini Sharan also sought an inquiry into people moving around the area dressed as saints, alleging that many anti-social elements could be using such attire. He said investigating these individuals could reveal additional information.
Another saint, Mahant Gangadas Ji Maharaj, described the incident as “very wrong” and alleged that similar incidents had occurred there previously.
He also alleged that some disciples at Keli Kunj were involved in land grabbing and “mafia activities”, claiming that such activities were harming Sanatan culture.
For now, investigators are using CCTV footage to reconstruct the sequence of events, while forensic tests of the mobile phone, blood sample and other evidence are underway. The circumstances surrounding the reported injury to Sharan’s private part and whether deleted digital data can provide information about his final hours remain central questions in the investigation.
