Three priests kill selves after Karnataka mutt chiefs death

Sadguru Ganeshwar Avadhooota Swami the head seer died under mysterious circumstances in February. The Chouli Mutt is currently torn by property and ascension issues. Ganeshwar Swami is suspected to have consumed poison after being upset over certain property issues dogging the mutt located on an eight-acre property,including alleged encroachment of land belonging to local farmers. No police investigation was allowed to be carried out by the mutt devotees in this case,police have stated.

An unsigned chit apparently written by the Swami stating: I am upset at the sorrows of my followers. I have joined my creator and another note that read anyone can have the mutt after I am gone, was also found at the ashram following the February incident. The devotees had opposed a post-mortem on the grounds that the seer had attained samadhi.

The cult-like mutt is believed to have been started by Ganeshwar Swami,a Marathi speaking Lingayat,in the 1990s after he arrived from Belgaum in Karnataka. His devotees celebrated what he claimed be his 125th birthday within a year of his arrival in Bidar.