Nigamananda's aide wants CBI to probe guru's role

An aide of Swami Nigamananda, who died during a fast against quarrying in Ganga riverbed, is sitting on a dharna in Haridwar demanding that the Central Bureau of Investigation probe the role of the seer's guru Shivanand.

Blaming Matri Sadan head Swami Shivanand for the entire episode, Satyawati, who calls herself 'gurubehen' of Swami Nigamanand, alleged that Shivanand pressed Nigamananda to start a fast-unto-death but didn't ensure proper care for him when he slipped into a coma, which led to his death.

"The CBI inquiry should also be conducted against Swami Shivanand," Satyawati said, adding that the guru should have asked Nigamananda to stop his fast when he saw that his condition was deteriorating.

Nigamananda, who was fasting for nearly four months demanding an immediate stopping of quarrying in Ganga, died in a hospital near here on June 13. The state government had recommended a CBI probe amid allegations by Shivanand that the seer was poisoned at the behest of quarrying mafia.

The 36-year-old seer began his fast on February 19. He was admitted to Haridwar district hospital on April 18 and he went into coma on May 2.

Satyawati is sitting on a dharna since the last two days on the premises of a local court. She said she has also written letters to President Pratibha Patil, the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and the Human Rights Commission in this regard.