Udaynath Maharaj arrested after HC rejects bail plea

Mumbai, Apr 5 (UNI) Spiritual guru Udaynath Maharaj, allegedly involved in the plot to kill a city-based builder, was arrested today immediately after his anticipatary bail application was rejected by the Bombay High Court.

A single judge bench of Justice J H Bhatia rejected Maharaj's anticipatory bail application considering his active involvement in the alleged crime.

The court also accepted the contention of Assistant Public Prosecutor V B Kondedeshmukh that custodial interrogation was needed to ascertain about the weapons and advance money given by Maharaj to the contract killers.

Udaynath Maharaj is accused of giving a supari (contract) to Chhota Rajan gangsters to kill city-based builder Rashmikant Shah at the behest of Rajendra Chaturvedi, another builder.

The crime came to light after one of the four persons Vijay Wadkar, arrested by the Juhu police on February 25 this year, confessed that Udaynath Maharaj had promised to pay him Rs 50 lakh and Rs 12.50 lakh, a part of the amount, was already received as advance.

Subsequently, Chaturvedi of Shripati group was also arrested on March 15.

UNI