Computer Baba (File)

Days after he launched a front to take on the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government in Madhya Pradesh, accusing it of being “anti-religion and corrupt”, Computer Baba was Thursday expelled from the akhada he belongs to.

Senior functionaries of the Sri Panch Digambar Ani Akhada accused him of maligning the image of Hindu sants by engaging in activities to further his political and personal interests. The akhada also decided to strip him of the ‘Mahamandleshwar’ title and said that it will not allow him to enter the Kumbh Mela next year.

Computer Baba, whose real name is Namdev Das Tyagi, was one of the five religious figures who were given the Minister of State (MoS) status by the MP government in April this year.

Opposition parties had slammed the decision to accord MoS status to the Baba, claiming it was done to “buy his silence” after he had threatened to expose the government by taking out a yatra. After he was given MoS status, the baba had called off the yatra, claiming his appointment had given him the opportunity to work for conservation of the Narmada.

On October 1, he resigned from the post, accusing the BJP government of being anti-religion and doing little to stop illegal sand mining in the Narmada and for failing to prevent cow slaughter.

The Baba has led two gatherings of Hindu sants in Indore and Gwalior and is scheduled to hold three more such gatherings.

Asked about his expulsion from the Sri Panch Digambar Ani Akhada, the Baba told The Indian Express, “They won’t stop at just expelling me as Mahamandleshwar. They are conspiring to put me in serious trouble.” The baba said legal proceedings could be initiated against him to stop him from mobilising the sant community. Citing a threat to his life, he had recently moved high court seeking police protection.