Court frames charges against Anand Giri, two others in Narendra Giri suicide case

PRYAGRAJ: Sessions judge, Prayagraj on Friday framed charges against Anand Giri and two others in a criminal case relating to alleged abetment to suicide of Mahant Narendra Giri, the then head of Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP).
While framing charges against them, sessions judge Santosh Rai fixed April 13 for evidence.
While the charges against Anand Giri were framed under section 306 (abetment to suicide), charges against other two accused - Adya Prashad Tiwari and Sandeep Tiwari - were framed under section 306 and section 120B (conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Earlier, on March 6, 2023, the sessions judge had rejected the discharge applications moved by Anand Giri and the two others who had requested the court to discharge them from the criminal case relating to the alleged abetment to suicide. While rejecting the applications of the three accused applicants, the sessions judge had fixed March 31 for framing of charges against them.
The sessions judge framed charges after hearing counsel for the accused and the prosecution side, led by district government counsel (DGC-criminal) Gulab Chandra Agrahri, and prosecution officer (PO) of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Deep Narain. The prosecution side had submitted that there was sufficient evidence against the applicants, hence the charges can be framed against them.
All the three accused applicants appeared before the court through video conferencing, but DGC Gulab Chandra Agrahri and CBI PO Deep Narain were physically present before the court.
The body of Narendra Giri was found hanging from the ceiling of a room in Shri Math Baghambari Gaddi under the limits of Georgetown police station in Prayagraj on September 20, 2021. Narendra Giri was the president of ABAP, the largest organization of seers in India.
In his suicide note, the Mahant had charged Anand Giri and two others of mental harassment.
An FIR was lodged against the three accused under Section 306 (abetment of suicide) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) at police station Georgetown.
Subsequently, Anand Giri and two others were arrested. They were produced before the CJM court on September 22 and remanded to judicial custody for 14 days and sent to jail.
Later, on the recommendation of the state government, the investigation of the case was transferred from UP police to the CBI.
After 60 days of investigation, the CBI had submitted its charge sheet on November 20, 2021, stating that Narendra Giri was under such "grave mental trauma" from his estranged disciple Anand Giri and two others that he ended his life to "avoid defamation and insult" in the eyes of the society.
On November 11, special judge at Prayagraj had rejected the bail application of Anand Giri saying that as per the case diary of the case, the witnesses have by and large supported the prosecution case. Subsequently, Anand Giri approached the high court, which too rejected his bail application.
At present, all the three accused applicants are in jail. While Anand Giri is lodged in Chitrakoot Jail, Adya Prasad Tiwari and Sandeep Tiwari are lodged in Naini Central Jail of Prayagraj.