Spiritual Leader Bhaiyyu Maharaj Commits Suicide By Shooting Himself In Head

Spiritual leader Bhaiyyu Maharaj, 50, shot himself on Tuesday, leaving thousands of his followers stunned. The “godman”, who was born Uday Singh Deshmukh, allegedly killed himself at his house in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. He was at the centre of a controversy that confronted the state’s Shivraj Singh Chouhan government earlier this year, after five spiritual leaders – including Bhaiyyuji Maharaj – were deemed ministers in charge of saving the river Narmada.

‘Some body should be there to handle duties of family… I am leaving to(o) much stressed out, fed up (sic),’ Bhaiyyu Maharaj wrote before taking the fatal decision.

The police is also investigating this angle. ‘We have seized the suicide note. In the suicide note, he has mentioned mental tension but the reason for the tension is not known as yet. We are investigating the case,’ DIG Harinarayanchari Mishra was quoted as saying by a news agency.

Talking about the investigation, Inspector General of Police Makrand Deoskar said that ‘all aspects of the case are being investigated. Family members will also be questioned.’

The Congress, meanwhile, has alleged that the Madhya Pradesh government had put pressure on him to accept privileges and support the Shivraj Singh Chouhan administration, which he refused to do. ‘He was under a lot of mental pressure. CBI probe should be done,’ Congress leader Manak Agarwal said.

Bhaiyyu Maharaj had massive following in his home state Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra also. In 2016, the self-styled guru had announced that he renounce public life.

In 2011, Bhaiyyu Maharaj shot to limelight, when the then UPA government deputed him as a mediator to persuade social activist Anna Hazare to call off his fast at the Ramlila ground in Delhi over the Lokpal issue.

Before becoming Prime Minister, Narendra Modi had also invited Bhaiyyu Maharaj during his ‘sadbhavna vrat’ in Gujarat.

Several VVIPs are known to have visited his Indore ashram. Narendra Modi, Vilasrao Deshmukh, Pratibha Patil, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle have visited him in the past.Despite tremendous clout, Bhaiyyu Maharaj never accepted any role in politics. He always maintained a safe distance and said that a saint is above all such worldly issues.

The Model-Turned-Guru Who Loved His Mercedes, Rolex: 10 Facts On Bhaiyyu Maharaj

1. When the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh offered him ministership, Bhaiyyu Maharaj refused saying: “A post holds no importance for a saint.”
2. Bhaiyyu Maharaj travelled in a Mercedes and was rarely seen without his Rolex watch. He has a sprawling bungalow in Indore.
3. Born in 1968, Bhaiyyuji was a model before he became a spiritual guru. He once modeled for a brand of clothing.
4. He married for the second time at the age of 49 last year. On his wedding day, a woman who claimed to be an actress accused him of cheating on her.
5. Bhaiyyuji was born to a family of landowners in Shujalpur.
6. In 2011, when the India Against Corruption movement for a Lokpal or corruption watchdog was at its peak, the Congress government sent Bhaiyyu Maharaj to mediate with Anna Hazare, who was on an indefinite fast. Anna Hazare broke the fast by having juice given by Bhaiyyu Maharaj.
7. Bhaiyyu Maharaj was invited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he observed a “‘sadbhavna fast” as Chief Minister of Gujarat.
8. Those who have visited his ashram include former president Pratibha Patil, Sharad Pawar, Lata Mangeshkar, Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray and Asha Bhonsle.
9. Bhaiyyuji Maharaj escaped an alleged attack on his car near Pune in 2016, while on his way back to Indore after meeting his daughter.
10. When Bhaiyyu Maharaj was injured in the accident, those who visited him included RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and then Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel.