HATHRAS: Authorities have seized documents revealing assets worth over Rs 100 crore linked to Surajpal Singh, alias Bhole Baba, who claims he never accepts donations. Despite his assertions, he oversees 24 luxurious ashrams, drives plush cars, and employs a private security force. Officials have seized documents detailing part of this immense wealth, including a “five-star” ashram in Mainpuri.
Bhole Baba’s rise to fame and fortune is remarkable.A stampede at his satsang in Hathras claimed the lives of 121 people, yet his name was not named in the FIR. Since the incident, he has been missing, and over 50 cops have been deployed outside his ashram in Mainpuri.
For two years, Bhole Baba resided in a luxurious ashram in Mainpuri, spanning over 21 bighas of land. The ashram has six large rooms reserved for him and his wife, and no one can enter without permission. The main gate lists the names of 200 people who donated towards its construction, with the highest donation being Rs 2.5 lakh and the lowest being Rs 10,000. Including the land, the value of the ashram is estimated to be around Rs 5 crore.
The ashram is managed by a trust, and those close to Bhole Baba claim he owns 24 ashrams and land worth over 100 crore rupees. When he appears before his followers, he is often seen wearing a white three-piece suit with a tie and stylish eyewear. He arrives in a procession accompanied by a convoy of at least 20 vehicles, led by 15 commandos in black uniforms on motorcycles, mostly Royal Enfield Bullets, to clear the path.
Volunteers from his trust, dressed in light pink attire and carrying batons, strategically line the route to facilitate his smooth passage. They also ensure that no one records or photographs the event. Bhole Baba himself travels in a white Toyota Fortuner, with its interior fitted with matching white seat covers, symbolising both luxury and spiritual authority.
An ashram insider revealed that around 80 people work as volunteers without pay, with some guarding the gate and others cleaning and cooking. In Kanpur, he has an ashram spanning over 14 bighas of land in Kasui village. The ashram building itself occupies three bighas of land. According to the villagers, before the Hathras incident, policemen used to receive free tiffin from the ashram. “This was done so that if there was any dispute with the villagers, the police would side with the ashram people,” said a local, Vishal Kumar.
Ashok Kardam, a resident of the village, said there is a path leading to his fields in front of the ashram. When the ashram was built, he thought the path to his fields would now be clean and tidy. Little did he know that the ashram’s volunteers would not let him pass through there. When they try to pass through the front of the ashram to go to their fields, the president stops them. Several times, the matter has even reached the police station due to physical altercations. In these cases, the police always side with the ashram, which is why the villagers live in constant fear, he said.
In Etawah, Bhole Baba has an ashram built on 15 bighas of land near Sarai Bhupat railway station. The satsang hall was built by the villagers and has several rooms, a large hall, and a stage outside. According to local youth Lalit Kumar, small events have been held at this satsang hall, which was built about two and a half years ago, but Bhole Baba has not yet visited the place. “Baba got upset about something, which is why the ashram is lying vacant. It is looked after by a committee of villagers. Funds were collected from the villagers for the construction of this ashram,” he said.
In his ancestral village of Bahadur Nagar in Kasganj district, is his first ashram and the starting point of his empire. It is in the name of the Hari Charitable Trust and encompasses 60 bighas of land. There are guard posts for security in the ashram, which is surrounded by high walls. There is a large gate, and the roof is red, making it look like a fort. Outside, there is a large board that states that taking photos and videos inside is prohibited. A statue of Bhole Baba on “Garud” stands at the ashram.
Bhole Baba has established a trust and a panel, known as the “Hum Committee,” in every district. If someone wants to organise a satsang, they cannot directly contact Baba but have to contact the committee in their district, a source suggests. Collector Singh, who is associated with the panr in Mainpuri, said no donations are collected from the general public for satsangs. The people who are on the committee bear all the expenses. The committee first takes care of everything and then takes a slip to Baba. Once Baba agrees, preparations begin at the venue. His devotees, like us, go to the place and clean it up and take care of all the arrangements. Baba does not accept any kind of donation.
Bhole Baba’s devotees are not just common people but also high-ranking officials. Locals say that people often come here in high-end cars. His supporters include senior officials from UP and neighbouring states. However, being govt servants, they do not want their names to be included in the donation list, so they make secret donations.
Suresh Chandra, who retired as a bank manager in Mainpuri, is a devotee. He said he has been associated with Bhole Baba for about 20 years, and many people like him are all associated with the committee, and whenever there is any need, all the members of the committee come together to make a decision.