AGRA: The devotional event (satsang) at Hathras in which over 100 people lost their lives on Tuesday was being conducted by preacher ‘Sakar Vishwa Hari Bhole Baba’, formerly known as Surajpal Singh, a former UP Police constable who left service prematurely to become a religious preacher.
Singh is believed to have served as a cop for 18 years during which he was posted across 12 police stations in western UP, as well as in the state’s intelligence unit.He opted for voluntary retirement (VRS) in the 1990s, changing his name to Sakar Vishwa Hari, sources said. He soon hit the big time on the religious circuit in north India, and now has lakhs of followers including senior govt officials as well as politicians. His followers are mainly concentrated across western Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi, sources said.
“Bhole Baba belongs to the Jatav community and has a profound influence among the SC/ST and OBC sections. Muslims are also among his followers,” a police officer said. Interestingly, unlike other godmen, he does not adorn saffron attire. Nor is he too active on social media unlike many other preachers. During his discourses, he is often seen wearing a white suit and white shoes, or occasionally, a kurta-pyjama, topped up with a white cap.
He is usually accompanied by his wife and lives a plush life at his ashram in Patiyali area of Kasganj. His events are massive affairs drawing hordes of crowds. Marriages are also solemnised during these events, as per sources. The weekly event or satsang, held every Tuesday, is managed by the baba’s volunteers, referred to as sevadars. They take care of the entire proceedings including arranging food forthe attendees to managing traffic at the venue, a source added.
The baba is no stranger to controversies. In May 2022, when the country was still grappling with Covid-19, he had organised a congregation in Farrukhabad. The district administration had granted permission for only 50 people to attend the gathering. However, in defiance of orders, more than 50,000 people turned up, leading to the district administration filing an FIR against the organisers.
There are also several allegations of land grabbing against Bhole Baba. His organisation has been accused of illegally occupying seven bighas of land in Karsui village of Bidhnu area in Kanpur.
The baba’s next programme was scheduled to be held in Agra from July 4 to July 11. Preparations were underway at Nagla Kesari on Gwalior Road, and posters for the event had already been put up. Soon after the stampede, the baba, who had arrived in Hathras in a convoy of over 60 SUVs after attending a satsang in Mainpuri, absconded with the help of his sevadars. Police teams are now on the lookout for him.
Singh is believed to have served as a cop for 18 years during which he was posted across 12 police stations in western UP, as well as in the state’s intelligence unit.He opted for voluntary retirement (VRS) in the 1990s, changing his name to Sakar Vishwa Hari, sources said. He soon hit the big time on the religious circuit in north India, and now has lakhs of followers including senior govt officials as well as politicians. His followers are mainly concentrated across western Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi, sources said.
“Bhole Baba belongs to the Jatav community and has a profound influence among the SC/ST and OBC sections. Muslims are also among his followers,” a police officer said. Interestingly, unlike other godmen, he does not adorn saffron attire. Nor is he too active on social media unlike many other preachers. During his discourses, he is often seen wearing a white suit and white shoes, or occasionally, a kurta-pyjama, topped up with a white cap.
He is usually accompanied by his wife and lives a plush life at his ashram in Patiyali area of Kasganj. His events are massive affairs drawing hordes of crowds. Marriages are also solemnised during these events, as per sources. The weekly event or satsang, held every Tuesday, is managed by the baba’s volunteers, referred to as sevadars. They take care of the entire proceedings including arranging food forthe attendees to managing traffic at the venue, a source added.
The baba is no stranger to controversies. In May 2022, when the country was still grappling with Covid-19, he had organised a congregation in Farrukhabad. The district administration had granted permission for only 50 people to attend the gathering. However, in defiance of orders, more than 50,000 people turned up, leading to the district administration filing an FIR against the organisers.
There are also several allegations of land grabbing against Bhole Baba. His organisation has been accused of illegally occupying seven bighas of land in Karsui village of Bidhnu area in Kanpur.
The baba’s next programme was scheduled to be held in Agra from July 4 to July 11. Preparations were underway at Nagla Kesari on Gwalior Road, and posters for the event had already been put up. Soon after the stampede, the baba, who had arrived in Hathras in a convoy of over 60 SUVs after attending a satsang in Mainpuri, absconded with the help of his sevadars. Police teams are now on the lookout for him.
