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The Allahabad High Court today heard the bail plea of the key accused Anand Giri in the death case of the Mahant Narendra Giri of Baghambari Gaddi and former National President of Akhara Parishad.

The Bench of Justice Rajiv Gupta noted that though in pursuance of court's earlier order, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had filed its reply on January 4, it could not be uploaded on the high court website by the time of hearing. 

Therefore, the bench directed the Registry to upload the counter-affidavit at the earliest. Court also granted Giri's counsel ten days' time to file the rejoinder affidavit. 

On December 3, 2021, the high court had granted 4 weeks' time to CBI to file its reply on Giri's bail petition. Advocates Imran Ullah and Vineet Vikram appear on behalf of Giri and Senior Advocate Gyan Prakash assisted by Advocate Sanjay Kumar Yadav appear for the CBI.

In his bail application, Anand Giri has pleaded that he had been falsely implicated in the case and that the suicide note in which his name had appeared was suspicious. He has also alleged that the said suicide note was not in the handwriting of deceased Mahant Narendra Giri and there are many cuttings in it.

Further, he has argued that apart from that, there is no evidence against him to prove his involvement in the unfortunate incident.He has contended that he was in Haridwar, away from the city of Prayagraj at the time of the incident and 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