Ashutosh Maharaj

The body of a spiritual guru who died in January 2014 will for now remain in a freezer, the Punjab and Haryana High Court said, in a decision welcomed by his disciples who believe he is in a deep state of meditation and will return to life.

While allowing the petitions filed by four women disciples, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today adjourned till March 19 the hearing on the cremation of Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan sect head Ashutosh Maharaj.

In more worry for the Punjab Police, a congregation has been announced by a dera or ashram that has refused to cremate its guru for the last 11 months. The guru's followers are angry at a High Court order that his body, which has been in a freezer since January, must be cremated within 15 days.

Ashutosh Maharaj, godman in freezer, Punjab and Haryana High Court, Punjab government, Rampal ashram, Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan, Punjab Dera, Nurmahal ashram, Jalandhar

The police has beefed up security and is keeping a close eye on an ashram near Jalandhar in Punjab, where there is tension after the High Court ordered that the body of the guru who headed the ashram be cremated within 15 days.

An Indian guru declared dead has been in a deep freezer in his ashram for nearly six weeks with followers confident he will return to life to lead them, his spokesman said.

The body of a spiritual guru who died in January 2014 will for now remain in a freezer, the Punjab and Haryana High Court said, in a decision welcomed by his disciples who believe he is in a deep state of meditation and will return to life.

While allowing the petitions filed by four women disciples, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today adjourned till March 19 the hearing on the cremation of Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan sect head Ashutosh Maharaj.

In more worry for the Punjab Police, a congregation has been announced by a dera or ashram that has refused to cremate its guru for the last 11 months. The guru's followers are angry at a High Court order that his body, which has been in a freezer since January, must be cremated within 15 days.

Ashutosh Maharaj, godman in freezer, Punjab and Haryana High Court, Punjab government, Rampal ashram, Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan, Punjab Dera, Nurmahal ashram, Jalandhar

The police has beefed up security and is keeping a close eye on an ashram near Jalandhar in Punjab, where there is tension after the High Court ordered that the body of the guru who headed the ashram be cremated within 15 days.

An Indian guru declared dead has been in a deep freezer in his ashram for nearly six weeks with followers confident he will return to life to lead them, his spokesman said.