Phulbani/ Rayagada: In a crackdown Sunday afternoon, Kandhamal district police arrested Mahadev Maharaj who was a former employee at Jalespata Kanyashram in connection with the death threats to the ashram chief Swami Jivan Muktananda Puri.
Mahadev was arrested from Chatikana area under Bissamcuttack police limits in Rayagada district. The accused was working at the Jalespata ashram in 2019, Kandhamal SP Vinit Agarwal informed.
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“The cellphone used by him to make calls to the seer was seized by police. Preliminary investigation revealed Mahadev had differences with the Swamiji. We will make adequate security around the ashram and review it from time to time,” the Kandhamal SP expressed.
Mahadev has constructed an ashram at Bariguda village from where he was arrested in Rayagada, Agarwal added.
Notably, Puri consecutively received two phone calls Saturday during which he was threatened by the caller to be killed within next four days. The seer had lodged an FIR with Tumudibandha police.
PNN