Kota seer Devanand Maharaj stabbed to death inside monastery in Rajasthan
Synopsis
A prominent monastery head in Kota, Rajasthan, was stabbed to death inside his own room on Friday night — with investigators suspecting the attackers locked another resident Mahant before striking. With no motive established yet and multiple angles including land disputes and robbery being probed, the killing of a widely respected religious figure has triggered protests and a major police mobilisation.
Key Takeaways
Mahant Devanand Maharaj , head of a monastery in Chandresal village, Kota , was stabbed to death by unidentified assailants late on Friday night .
He was declared dead at Maharao Bhim Singh (MBS) Hospital, Kota , due to excessive blood loss and multiple stab injuries.
Police suspect attackers locked another resident Mahant inside his room before carrying out the murder.
FSL teams, a dog squad, and forensic experts have been deployed; CCTV footage from surrounding roads is under review.
Investigators are examining angles including personal enmity, monastery land disputes, and a possible robbery attempt.
Hindu organisations and locals have demanded immediate arrests, prompting deployment of additional police at the village and hospital.
Mahant Devanand Maharaj, the head of a prominent monastery in Chandresal village under Borkheda police station limits in Kota district, Rajasthan, was stabbed to death by unidentified assailants late on Friday night, police confirmed on Saturday, 7 June 2025. The religious leader was found lying in a pool of blood inside his room at the monastery, in what authorities are treating as a targeted attack.
How the Attack Unfolded
According to preliminary police investigations, the Mahant was resting in his room when the attackers entered the monastery premises and repeatedly stabbed him with sharp-edged weapons. His cries for help alerted sevadars and nearby residents, who rushed to the spot, prompting the assailants to flee under the cover of darkness.
Police suspect the attackers had locked another resident Mahant inside his room before carrying out the crime. When sevadars and villagers entered the room, they found Devanand Maharaj lying in a pool of blood with multiple stab wounds.
Death Confirmed at Kota Hospital
The injured religious leader was immediately rushed to Maharao Bhim Singh (MBS) Hospital in Kota, where doctors declared him dead due to excessive blood loss and multiple stab injuries. The body has been kept in the hospital mortuary pending a post-mortem examination.
Investigation Under Way
Forensic experts and a dog squad were deployed to the crime scene. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team collected blood samples, fingerprints, and other physical evidence from the Mahant's room. Police have begun questioning sevadars, villagers, and recent visitors to the monastery.
CCTV footage from roads connecting Chandresal village and the Borkheda area is being examined to trace suspicious movements during the night. Investigators are exploring multiple angles, including personal enmity, disputes over the monastery's land and assets, and the possibility of a robbery attempt that turned violent. Officials cautioned that no conclusion can be drawn until the accused are identified and arrested.
'Police and FSL teams are investigating every angle of the murder at the scene. Based on the evidence collected from the crime spot, efforts are underway to identify and trace the accused,' said Suman Chand, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Kota.
Outrage and Security Deployment
Locals described Devanand Maharaj as a soft-spoken religious leader with no known personal disputes. The murder of a senior religious figure inside a monastery has triggered outrage among local residents and Hindu organisations, with protesters demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible and warning of agitation if the case remains unsolved.
Additional police personnel have been deployed at Chandresal village and outside the MBS Hospital mortuary to maintain law and order. Senior police officials have appealed for calm and assured the public that multiple teams are actively working on the case.
With forensic evidence under analysis and CCTV feeds being reviewed, investigators are expected to narrow down suspects in the coming days.
Point of View
Not a crime of opportunity. Yet the absence of any established motive, combined with the victim's reputation as a man without known enemies, makes this case unusually opaque. Disputes over monastery land and assets are a recurring flashpoint in such institutions, and investigators will need to move fast: public anger is already organised, and delayed arrests risk communal tensions hardening into something larger. The speed and transparency of this investigation will be a test of Rajasthan Police's credibility.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Mahant Devanand Maharaj?
Mahant Devanand Maharaj was the head of a prominent monastery in Chandresal village under Borkheda police station limits in Kota district, Rajasthan. Locals described him as a soft-spoken religious leader with no known personal disputes.
How was Devanand Maharaj killed?
Unidentified assailants entered the monastery premises late on Friday night and repeatedly stabbed the Mahant with sharp-edged weapons while he was resting in his room. He was found in a pool of blood by sevadars and villagers who responded to his cries for help.
What is the suspected motive behind the murder?
Police have not yet established a motive. Investigators are examining multiple angles, including personal enmity, disputes over the monastery's land and assets, and the possibility of a robbery attempt that turned violent. No conclusion can be drawn until the accused are identified.
What steps have police taken in the investigation?
Forensic Science Laboratory teams, a dog squad, and forensic experts have been deployed to the crime scene to collect blood samples, fingerprints, and physical evidence. Police are questioning sevadars, villagers, and recent visitors, and are reviewing CCTV footage from roads around Chandresal village and the Borkheda area.
What has been the public reaction to the murder?
The killing has triggered outrage among local residents and Hindu organisations, who have demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible and warned of agitation if the case remains unsolved. Additional police personnel have been deployed at Chandresal village and outside MBS Hospital to maintain law and order.
