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The Allahabad High Court has sought a response from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 4 weeks on the bail application of Anand Giri, arrested in the death case of the Mahant of Baghambari Gaddi and National President of Akhara Parishad Narendra Giri.

The Bench of Justice Rahul Chaturvedi was hearing the bail application of Anand Giri alias Ashok Kumar Chotiya. Advocates Imran Ullah Khan appeared on behalf of Giri and Senior Advocate Gyan Prakash assisted by Advocate Sanjay Kumar Yadav appeared for the CBI.

Upon submission of CBI's counsel that the matter requires a detailed counter-affidavit, the Court permitted the same and directed for the case to be listed next on December 20, as a fresh matter.

The Court also directed that by that day, the counsel for CBI will also be required to file its counter affidavit.

In his application, applicant Anand Giri has said that he had been falsely implicated in the case and that the suicide note in which his name had appeared was suspicious.

He had alleged that the said suicide note was not in the handwriting of deceased Mahant Narendra Giri and there are many cuttings in it.

He had also argued that apart from that, there was no evidence against him to prove his involvement in the unfortunate incident.

He further asserted that he was in Haridwar, away from the city of Prayagraj at the time of the incident. In support of this claim, he submitted that he was only subsequently informed by the police authorities about the death of the Mahant.

It is noteworthy that Anand Giri has been in jail since September 22.

On September 20, Mahant Narendra Giri, president of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP), was found hanging from the ceiling of the room in a suspicious condition at Shri Baghambri Math in Prayagraj.

In his suicide note, the Mahant had named Anand Giri and two others for causing mental harassment to him. Subsequently, an FIR was lodged against the three accused under Section 306 (abetment of suicide) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Police Station Georgetown in Prayagraj.

Consequently, Anand Giri and two others were arrested and produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on September 22 and remanded to judicial custody for 14 days and sent to jail.

Later on, after much uproar and allegations having been raised about the involvement of a senior Uttar Pradesh Police officer in the case, on the recommendation of the state government, the investigation of the case was transferred from UP police to the CBI on September 25.

After 60 days of investigation, the CBI had submitted its charge sheet on November 20, 2021 accusing Anand Giri and two others of abetment to suicide and criminal conspiracy. 

As per CBI, Mahant Narendra Giri was under such "grave mental trauma" from his estranged disciple Anand Giri and two others that he ended his life to "avoid defamation and insult" in the eyes of society.

Meanwhile, a Special Court in Allahabad had rejected his bail application on November 11. The instant bail plea was filed against that rejection.

Cause Title: Anand Giri @ Ashok Kumar Chotiya vs State of U.P. and Another