Mahant Giri's post-mortem, last rites to take place today; UP government forms 18-member SIT to probe case

The last rites of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad president, Mahant Narendra Giri will be held today, September 22, 2021. Giri was found dead in his room in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh at the Baghambari Math. 

The post-mortem of the ABAP president will be done by 8 am today and the last rites will be performed at 12 noon in Baghambari Math's garden. 

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led UP government has set up an n 18-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the death of Mahant Narendra Giri. The SIT, which will be headed by circle officer Ajit Singh Chauhan, will probe the various angles around the death of Giri and also the circumstances leading to the incident after a suicide note, purportedly written by him, has been recovered. 

CM Adityanath said on Tuesday that a team of senior police officers, including ADG Zone, IG Range and DIG Prayagraj, will investigate the death case of Giri. 

After paying floral tributes to the ABAP chief, He said, "Several pieces of evidence have been collected regarding the incident (death of President of Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad, Mahant Narendra Giri). A team of senior police officials incl ADG Zone, IG Range, DIG Prayagraj is investing the case."

Deputy Chief Minister KP Maurya said that the state government is even ready for a CBI probe.

In the case, Anand Giri, Mahant Giri's disciple, has been arrested and an FIR under IPC Section 306 (Abetment of suicide) has been filed against him and other suspects on the basis of a complaint filed by another disciple Amar Giri Pawan Maharaj, Additional Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said.

In his 6-page long suicide note, Giri purportedly said that he was deeply disturbed by the activities of his estranged disciple Anand Giri. He had also said that he had thought of taking his life earlier on September 13.

He also accused the priest of the Hanuman temple Adya Tiwari and his son Sandeep Tiwari of foul play and harassment.