A death inside an ashram in Vrindavan has raised questions about what happened in the minutes before a 25-year-old disciple fell from the fourth floor of a building.
Police have found CCTV footage showing the final moments before the fall. They have also recovered a grinder from his room and found an injury to his private part. His mobile phone has now been sent for forensic examination to check whether deleted chats, photographs or videos can shed light on what happened.
Here is what we know about the case so far.
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What Happened In Vrindavan?
The incident took place on 25 September 2026 at Guru Kripa Kunj in Vrindavan, Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh.
The deceased was identified as Deepak Lodhi, a resident of Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. After taking initiation from spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj around two years ago, he came to be known as Rasik Dulari Sharan.
According to police, he fell from the fourth floor of the ashram at around 10.30 am.
Other people at the ashram took him to a private hospital, where doctors declared him dead. His body was sent for post-mortem examination. The post-mortem report attributed his death to excessive bleeding.
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What Does The CCTV Show?
The CCTV footage has become an important part of the investigation.
According to police, Deepak came out of his room at around 10.25 am. His clothes appeared to have blood stains.
He then moved towards the fourth-floor terrace. CCTV footage showed him sitting there and later lying on the ground for about 10 seconds.
At around 10.36 am, he got up and went over the terrace, after which he fell to the road below.
Police have said the footage supports the preliminary possibility that he died by suicide. However, investigators are also examining what happened immediately before the fall.
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Then Came The Grinder
The investigation took another turn after police found a grinder inside the room where Deepak was staying.
Police have also confirmed that he had an injury to his private part. What caused that injury and whether it was connected to his death has not yet been established.
Vrindavan Circle Officer Sandeep Kumar Singh said the reason for the injury would become clear only after the investigation.
Police have seized CCTV equipment and sent Deepak's blood sample for forensic examination.
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What Do His Chats Show?
This is where the digital investigation comes in.
Deepak's mobile phone has been sent to a forensic laboratory for data recovery. Investigators are checking whether photographs, videos, chats or other material were deleted before his death and whether any of it can be recovered.
There is no verified public record yet showing what the deleted chats actually contained.
Police have also questioned people who lived at the ashram and those who were around Deepak. According to India Today, investigators had not found a clear reason for the death as of 28 September.
So, at this stage, claims about what the deleted messages may reveal remain unconfirmed.
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Who Was Deepak Lodhi?
Deepak Lodhi was a 25-year-old from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
He was living as a disciple or seeker in Vrindavan and used the name Rasik Dulari Sharan after taking initiation from Premanand Maharaj around two years ago. Reports say he had been staying at Guru Kripa Kunj since June 2026 and was involved in electrical work at the associated Keli Kunj ashram.
He should not be described as Premanand Maharaj himself or as a saint of the same status. He was a disciple associated with the spiritual organisation.
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What Is The Premanand Maharaj Connection?
Premanand Maharaj is a spiritual figure based in Vrindavan and associated with Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj.
The organisation's official website describes Premanand Govind Sharan Maharaj as a Rasik saint from Vrindavan and says the platform provides information and spiritual resources connected with his teachings.
Deepak's connection to him was through initiation and discipleship. His death therefore drew attention because he was staying at a premises associated with the wider Keli Kunj setup.
That association, however, does not by itself establish any connection between Premanand Maharaj and the circumstances of Deepak's death. The investigation is still underway.
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What Action Has Police Taken?
Police have examined CCTV footage from the premises and collected evidence from Deepak’s room. His mobile phone has been sent for forensic examination to check whether deleted chats, photographs or videos can be recovered. His blood sample has also been sent for forensic analysis.
Investigators have questioned people at the ashram and completed the inquest and post-mortem proceedings. They are continuing to examine the events before Deepak went to the terrace.
Based on the CCTV sequence, police are treating the death as a prima facie case of suicide. However, the investigation into the circumstances surrounding his injury and the events before the fall is continuing.
Some Vrindavan saints have also called for a higher-level investigation. These are demands for further investigation and do not, by themselves, establish that a crime took place.
Key questions remain about what happened inside Deepak’s room before he came out, how he sustained the injury and whether deleted material from his phone can provide further evidence.
The forensic examination and ongoing investigation may provide more information about the circumstances surrounding his death.
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TL;DR | News At a Glance
What happened to Deepak Lodhi?
Deepak Lodhi, also known as Rasik Dulari Sharan, died after falling from the fourth floor of Guru Kripa Kunj in Vrindavan on 25 September 2026.
What did CCTV show?
Police said CCTV showed him leaving his room, reaching the terrace and falling at around 10.36 am.
What was found in his room?
Police found a grinder and are investigating an injury to his private part. The cause and significance of the injury have not been established.
What do the deleted chats show?
Their contents have not been publicly established. Police have sent his phone for forensic recovery of deleted chats, photographs and videos.
Who was he?
He was a 25-year-old Jabalpur resident and a disciple associated with Premanand Maharaj. He took initiation around two years ago and came to be known as Rasik Dulari Sharan.
What is the police investigating?
Police are examining the circumstances before the fall, the unexplained injury, CCTV footage and digital evidence from his phone. The death is being treated as a suicide prima facie, while the investigation continues.
