VRINDAVAN, SEPTEMBER 29 : The death of Rasik Dulari Sharan, a disciple of spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj, is under investigation after he died following a fall from the fourth floor of an ashram building in Vrindavan, Mathura.
Police are treating the incident as a suspected suicide but are examining the circumstances leading up to the fatal fall. CCTV footage reportedly shows Sharan leaving his room at around 10:25 am on Friday with bloodstains on his clothes before moving towards the fourth-floor terrace.
According to the footage, he remained on the terrace for several minutes before jumping at around 10:36 am. He sustained severe injuries and was taken to a nearby private hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Investigators have also found a grinder inside the room where Sharan was staying. Police said an injury to his private area has emerged as part of the investigation, but the circumstances behind the injury remain unclear.
Vrindavan Circle Officer Sandeep Kumar Singh said the reason for the injury could be established only after the investigation. Police have seized CCTV equipment, while a blood sample has been sent for forensic examination.
Investigators are also examining Sharan’s mobile phone. The device has been sent to a forensic laboratory to determine whether deleted photographs, videos, chats or other digital material can be recovered and whether they could provide clues about events preceding his death.
Police have questioned people staying at the ashram and others who were present in the area. So far, investigators have not established a clear reason for the suspected suicide.
The post-mortem examination attributed the death to excessive bleeding, according to police.
Meanwhile, a group of saints in Vrindavan has demanded a high-level inquiry into the death. During a meeting, the saints called for a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Mahant Mohini Sharan Maharaj questioned the absence of a statement from the ashram where Sharan was staying and sought a high-level probe by the district administration. Another saint, Mahant Gangadas Ji Maharaj, also demanded an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
Police are currently relying on CCTV footage, forensic evidence and digital examination to establish the sequence of events. The reported injury and the possibility of recoverable deleted data remain key aspects of the ongoing investigation.
