Jitendra Giri, a resident of Kendujhar Town, Odisha, has lodged a complaint with the Saheed Nagar Police Station, accusing the Sri Vaikunthdham Ashram of being involved in his wife's disappearance. His wife, Lusika, has been missing for eight months. The couple, married since 2014, resided in Bhubaneswar. Lusika had been attending a course in Bhubaneswar, frequently visiting the Ashram over the past years.
Giri alleges that after he started his own business and moved to Mayurbhanj, his relationship with his wife deteriorated. He claims that the Ashram's Baba (spiritual leader) and devotees exerted undue influence over Lusika, essentially brainwashing her. Despite repeated calls, she stopped answering. In some calls, Lusika herself indicated the existence of a large, potentially criminal, group associated with the ashram. She claimed they were involved in financial exploitation, leveraging their position and using various manipulative tactics to defraud devotees. Further, she alluded to a sex scandal within the Ashram. She mentioned facing threats to her life if she tried to escape.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lusika reportedly came into contact with a young woman named Shibani, who introduced her further into the fold of the Ashram and its Baba, reinforcing the stories of miracles and spiritual power. Two devotees, Padmalochan Behera and K. Krishna Nand Prabhu, allegedly lured Lusika to an Ashram location in Khandagiri, where she secured a rented house and began work as a translator for foreign devotees.
Giri claims that attempts to retrieve his wife were met with demands for a significant sum of money. After paying ₹50,000, he was still unable to secure her return.
The Saheed Nagar police have registered a case based on Giri's complaint and have initiated an investigation. Officer Dilip confirmed that a station diary has been recorded and a team has visited the Ashram. The police are currently trying to establish the truth behind the allegations and will take action upon uncovering concrete evidence. Meanwhile, the Ashram's Baba, Kasi Nath Mishra, its President Pandit Pandav Parida, and other devotees are reportedly absconding, leaving the Ashram without clear leadership. The police investigation is ongoing.
