High Court orders cremation of controversial godman Ashutosh’s dead body

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked authorities to cremate dead body of Ashutosh in 15 days. Ashutosh a controversial godman and former chief of Noormehal based Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan had died on January 29, 2014 however the dera management declared that Ashutosh was in Samadhi (deep meditation) and his body was kept in freezers in side the dera.

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High Court order also commanded the formation of a committee of senior officers — that would include officers in the rank of home secretary and chief secretary — to overlook law and order during the cremation process.

A petition had been filed in the case by one – Dilip Kumar Jha – who claimed to be Ashutosh’s son and sought the “mortal remains” for performing last rites.

A second petition in the case had been filed by Ashutosh’s driver – Puran Singh – demanding a CBI probe to ascertain the cause of his former employer’s death.

Punjab government led by Badal-BJP combine reportedly told the High Court that Ashutosh had died a ‘natural death’. The state government had also refuted all allegations leveled by his ex- driver Puran Singh that he died under mysterious condition.

Controversial godman who was infamous for anti-Sikh activities was in close proximity to Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and other Hindutva forces.