Spiritual guru's disciple dies by suicide; family claims two-year isolation

A man identified as Deepak Lodhi, a disciple at a spiritual ashram in central India, died on Friday morning after jumping from the roof of the Guru Kripa Kunj ashram located on Barah Ghat Road. He was approximately 30 years old.

According to family members, Lodhi joined the ashram of spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj in 2024. The family alleged that after Lodhi made his initial offering to the guru, known as guru dakshina, he was prevented from maintaining contact with his relatives.

Family spokesperson Sonu Patel stated that Lodhi had not met with or spoken to family members for roughly two years prior to his death. "We were not allowed to see him or communicate with him," Patel told local media, expressing concern that the ashram's isolation policies may have contributed to the tragedy.

The incident has prompted broader concerns about the nature of control and contact restrictions within certain spiritual communities. Local authorities have registered the death and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the suicide.