Akhara Parishad functionary goes missing, ‘Zero FIR’ lodged

The Hindu saint community is fearing that a top Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad functionary, missing since Friday, may have been abducted by one of self-styled godmen, whom the apex body of saints derecognised last week.

Mahant Mohan Das Maharaj, parishad’s national spokesperson and Kothari of Shri Panchayati Akhada Bada Udasin, Haridwar, went missing from Bhopal en-route to Mumbai for treatment.

The seer had boarded Lok Manya Tilak Express train but was found missing from Bhopal, when his accompanying follower went to buy eatables. His mobile phone is also switched off since then.

The apex body of sadhus on September 10 released a list of 14 “fake babas” and sought a crackdown on “rootless cult leaders” by bringing in a legislation.

The announcement came weeks after a court in Haryana sentenced Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to 20 years in jail for raping of two women.

Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad president Mahant Narendra Giri Maharaj said “fake saints” and self-styled godmen named by them the at a convention in Allahabad could be one of reason behind missing of the body’s spokesperson.

He also demanded security cover for all Parishad office bearers and those saints who have raised voices against fake godmen.

Mahamandaleshwar Swami Hari Chetnanad Maharaj said: “If within a day or two police fail to trace Mahant Mohan Das, we will make a demand for CBI probe in this regard to chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat.”

Haridwar’s senior superintendent of police Krishan Kumar VK visited the Shri Panchayati Akhada Bada Udasin on Saturday to enquire about the incident.

While superintendent of city police Mamta Vohra met saints on Sunday at Shri Panchayati Akhada Bada Udasin, Kankhal, assuring saints of full cooperation from her force to trace Mahant Mohan Das.

“We have stepped up security at Akhada premise and also of some of the prominent saints of the Akhara Parishad in Haridwar. A Zero FIR has been lodged at Kankhal police station and a police team has been formed and sent to Bhopal for further investigation,” she said.

“We are tracing phone calls received by the saint prior to his suspicious missing” said SP City.

A Zero FIR can be lodged anywhere irrespective of the jurisdiction in which the crime happened. The FIR can be later transferred to the concerned police station.