Sevadar at Asaram Bapu's ashram in Madhya Pradesh found dead

CHHINDWARA: A sevadar working at the ashram of self-styled godman Asaram Bapu here was found dead under suspicious circumstances with his family members suspecting a foul play.

The sevadar, identified as Patiram was found dead yesterday in the ashram situated on the outskirts of Chhindwara town, police said.

However, the postmortem conducted by a team of four doctors today revealed that he died of snakebite, Chhindwara rural police station in-charge, K P Mishra told reporters.

Patiram's family members however, alleged that he died under suspicious circumstances as blood staines were found on his cloths as well as in his room, police said.

They also alleged that Patiram, who belongs to Neelkanthi village in the district was neither allowed to visit his home since last last 13 years, nor his family members were given permission to meet him, Mishra said.

The police official said though postmortem report has established the cause of the death, in view of the family's allegations, a probe would be conducted into the issue.

Meanwhile, the Nellkanth village head, Shrichand has demanded a high-level probe into the death of sevadar.