New Delhi: The sudden death of Sadhvi Prem Baisa, a celebrated religious preacher (kathavachak) of western Rajasthan, has ignited a firestorm of controversy. Her death has led to the political demands for a CBI probe, and a digital mystery that seems more like a suspense thriller than a tragic end.
What began as a reported medical emergency has rapidly spiraled into a “political hot potato,” with Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) leader and Jat heavyweight Hanuman Beniwal leading the charge for a central investigation into the “shrouded mystery.”
Sadhvi was treated by local compounder
The tragedy unfolded Wednesday evening when Prem Baisa was rushed to a private hospital in Jodhpur from her Boranada ashram by her father, Veeram Nath, and an aide. Dr Praveen Jain, who attended to her, declared her “brought dead.”
The doctor’s testimony has already raised red flags. According to Dr Jain, the father claimed the Sadhvi had a fever and was treated by a local compounder. Following an injection given by this healthcare worker, she reportedly lost consciousness. Suspiciously, when the doctor offered a government ambulance to transport the body for a mandatory post-mortem at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital on Thursday, the father allegedly refused, choosing instead to take her away in a private vehicle.
An Instagram note from the grave
An alleged suicide note was uploaded to the Sadhvi’s Instagram account nearly four hours after she was declared dead. The post, which has triggered intense debate, expressed her unwavering devotion to Sanatan Dharma and mentioned that she had sought permission for an “agni pariksha” (trial by fire) from high-ranking saints like the Jagatguru Shankaracharya.
She concluded the message with a haunting plea for justice. Police are now investigating whether the post was a pre-scheduled digital message or uploaded by someone else after her demise.
Blackmail and trolling
The root of the Sadhvi’s distress appears to be a toxic campaign of online harassment. Recently, she had been the target of a “deepfake” or edited video involving her father, used by a blackmailer to defame her.
Though the perpetrator was previously arrested and later pardoned by the Sadhvi, reports suggest he resumed circulating the video and inciting online abuse upon his release. The unrelenting trolling and psychological pressure are believed to have pushed the spiritual leader to a breaking point.
Chaos at the ashram and a dispute over rites
As news spread, the Aarti Nagar ashram became a scene of turmoil. Supporters have raised allegations of a massive cover-up, claiming that CCTV footage from the ashram has mysteriously vanished.
The investigation is further complicated by a deepening rift over her final rites. While the local saint community insists on a traditional samadhi burial at a sacred site, her father has fought to take the body to his private residence. Meanwhile, some supporters have voiced dark suspicions regarding the father’s own involvement in the events leading to her death.
The official probe
Jodhpur police are currently investigating multiple angles including identifying the “compounder” and the nature of the injection. The police is determining the authenticity and timing of the Instagram suicide note.
Looking at the cyber-crime angle, the investigators are investigating the blackmailers and trolls who allegedly drove her to despair.
With a high-profile post-mortem completed at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital on Thursday, the desert state now waits to see if the findings will clear the air or further deepen the mystery surrounding one of its most popular spiritual voices.