Mahant’s car accident in July under CBI scanner

PRAYAGRAJ: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing the death of Akhil Bhartiya Akhada Parishad (ABAP) chief Mahant Narendra Giri, is also looking into the July road mishap in Pratapgarh in which the priest escaped unhurt, an official familiar with the development said.

A team of sleuths is expected to question the Mahant’s driver and the technical team of police that had examined his vehicle then, to ascertain if the incident was a mishap or a conspiracy to kill him, the official cited above said on condition of anonymity.

Giri was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his room in Baghambari Gaddi Math in Prayagraj on September 20.

A purported suicide by the chief priest of Bade Hanuman Temple named his disciple and the Math’s de-facto number 2 till recently, Anand Giri, Bade Hanuman Temple priest Aadya Tiwari and his son Sandeep of harassing him.

All three were arrested in connection with the case.

“During the course of interrogation into the Mahant’s death, the CBI team learnt that he was on his way to Lucknow to meet Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on July 8 when a two-wheeler appeared in front of his vehicle, which was subsequently rammed by a third vehicle behind it,” the official said.

‘No one was injured’

“No one was injured but his vehicle was damaged in the incident,” the official added.

Shri Panchayati Akhada Niranjani secretary Swami Ravindra Puri said the seers and workers of the Math were fully cooperating with the investigation. Meanwhile, the CBI on Sunday continued to probe the three accused and also recovered Anand Giri’s mobile and laptop from Haridwar.