BHOPAL: Shaligram Garg, the younger brother of Hindu spiritual leader Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, popularly known as 'Bageshwar Baba', was arrested in his native Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday for allegedly attempting to murder a farmer.
“Shaligram and his aide Ankit have been arrested, while two other aides are on the run. Two teams constituted in the case are conducting raids across the district for nabbing the two other accused,” Chhatarpur Superintendent of Police Rajat Sakhlecha told TNIE.
A case of attempted murder was registered against Shaligram Garg and three aides under Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Rajnagar police station on Tuesday, based on video evidence, the victim's injuries and the doctors' report.
The alleged incident took place in Koda village on Tuesday morning when Shaligram and his aides allegedly stormed into the house of farmer Motilal Kushwaha, assaulted him with sticks and later opened fire, inflicting serious injuries.
Kushwaha, who was rushed to hospital, alleged that Shaligram and his associates attacked him in an attempt to grab his land. Doctors performed life-saving surgery to remove the bullet, but his condition remains critical.
One of Shaligram's aides, however, alleged that Kushwaha and his associates attacked them with sharp-edged weapons. A video of the alleged incident purportedly shows four men, including Shaligram, fleeing the scene. Shaligram is reportedly seen carrying a weapon.
This is not the first time Shaligram has faced criminal allegations.
In February 2023, police in Chhatarpur booked him for allegedly barging into the wedding of a Scheduled Caste family, assaulting guests and brandishing a pistol.
In April 2024, another case was registered against Shaligram and his aides in Sagar district over the alleged assault of toll plaza staff.
Eight months later, in December 2024, Shaligram appeared in a video claiming he had no relationship with his elder brother, Dhirendra Krishna Shastri.
Reacting to the attempted murder case against his brother, Shastri said on Tuesday, “Three years back only, I’ve made it clear that I don’t have any relations with Shaligram Ji and neither the family. Entire world is my family and I’m in the service of the country and my religion.”
The religious leader, a vocal supporter of the idea of a Hindu Rashtra, is the head priest of the Bageshwar Dham shrine dedicated to Lord Hanuman in Chhatarpur district.
Meanwhile, Vyapam scam whistleblower-turned-Congress leader Dr Anand Rai demanded that Shaligram either be killed in an encounter or booked under the National Security Act (NSA) if the ruling BJP wanted the support of the Kushwaha community in the July 30 Datia Assembly by-election.
“If the encounter isn’t possible, then the National Security Act should be invoked against Shaligram,” Rai said in a social media post on Wednesday.
The Datia Assembly constituency has more than 16,000 Kushwaha voters.