On Thursday, Inspector General of Police Shalabh Mathur announced the arrest of six individuals in connection with the stampede during a religious event of Bhole Baba in Hathras.
He also announced a reward of ₹1 lakh for the arrest of the main suspect, Prakash Madhukar.
In the past two decades, Suraj Pal, a self-styled godman worshipped by a legion of followers as Bhole Baba and Narayan Hari Sakar, has amassed assets worth ₹100 crores.
The investigation into the stampede tragedy at Bhole Baba’s ‘Satsang’ or religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras, which resulted in 121 deaths last Tuesday, has brought his wealth into the spotlight.
Individuals closely associated with its operations manage the Shri Narayan Hari Sakar Charitable Trust, which oversees Suraj Pal’s organization.
Since the tragedy, Baba Bhole, who has not appeared in public, has been revered as a messiah by his followers. They believed that his mantras could ward off spirits and resolve household disputes.
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Bhole Baba’s Lifestyle
According to the report, a grand procession marks Bhole Baba’s arrival, with 16 commandos on powerful 350 cc motorcycles leading the convoy to ensure a clear path for a fleet of 15 to 30 vehicles. Pal himself rides in a white Toyota Fortuner, which reportedly features matching white seat covers in its interiors, as per report.
Suraj Pal and his wife reside in Hari Nagar, the Mainpuri Ashram in Bichuva, spanning 21 bighas of land. The estate reportedly includes six rooms specifically designated for their use.
The land on which the ‘five-star’ ashram, resembling a palace, is built is valued at ₹4 crore.
Police reported that approximately 2.5 lakh followers had gathered for the event, exceeding the permitted limit of 80,000. As Bhole Baba was leaving the venue, a crowd surged forward to collect the dust kicked up by his convoy, believing it to be a blessing.
Volunteers and security personnel from his organization pushed back the crowd to control it, resulting in several devotees falling around an embankment and being crushed by the crowd. The chaos prompted other attendees to start running, which triggered a stampede.
On July 2, authorities filed an FIR under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 126 (2) (wrongful restraint), 223 (disobedience to public servant’s order), and 238 (causing disappearance of evidence).
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