Rajasthan saint death: Body of Bannanath exhumed after 50 hours, murder case filed
Synopsis
A saint's body was dug up from his burial site in Rajasthan's Churu district nearly 50 hours after burial, after his family alleged he was beaten to death and secretly buried to hide the crime. Seven people, including the head of the ashram where Bannanath lived, have been booked for murder — with the post-mortem result set to be the key pivot in the case.
Key Takeaways
The body of saint Bannanath was exhumed from his samadhi in Sangasar village, Churu district, Rajasthan , nearly 50 hours after burial on Thursday .
A murder case has been registered against seven individuals , including Balaknath , Bajrangnath , Mukeshnath , Loonnath , and Lakshminarayan .
The exhumation was ordered by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and conducted under the supervision of Tehsildar Ankit Mimani with FSL teams present.
Complainant Hansraj , Bannanath's brother, alleges the saint was beaten to death following a dispute with Balaknath and buried secretly to conceal the crime.
Villagers blocked the Salasar road in protest; traffic was restored after approximately one hour .
Post-mortem results and forensic findings are awaited to establish the cause of death.
The body of a saint, Bannanath, was exhumed from his samadhi (burial site) in Sangasar village of Ratangarh tehsil in Rajasthan's Churu district, nearly 50 hours after burial, following allegations that he was murdered. A murder case has been registered against seven individuals, and the post-mortem examination is expected to establish the cause of death.
How the Exhumation Was Carried Out
The exhumation was conducted on Thursday on the orders of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, under the supervision of Tehsildar Ankit Mimani. Medical teams and personnel from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) were present throughout the procedure. The body has since been shifted to the district hospital mortuary for a formal post-mortem examination.
A police team led by Circle Inspector Sandeep Kumar was deployed at the site. A large number of villagers gathered at the spot as officials carried out the exhumation.
The Complaint and Background
According to the police complaint filed by Hansraj, son of Mohanlal and a resident of Dhaulpalia village in Haryana's Sirsa district, his younger brother Bannanath had renounced worldly life and become a sadhu in 2004. Bannanath had reportedly been living at Balaknath's ashram in Rawatsar for the past two years before arriving in Sangasar village on 30 September.
According to the complaint, Balaknath called Hansraj on 2 October and invited him to attend a satsang. Hansraj travelled to Rawatsar on 3 October. A day later, on 4 October, he learned that Balaknath had left Bannanath with Bajrangnath in Sangasar village, reportedly stating he would return within a week. Contact with Bannanath was subsequently lost.
Allegations Against the Accused
Hansraj has alleged that his brother had a dispute with Balaknath and was beaten to death. He further alleged that the accused buried Bannanath in a samadhi without informing the family, in what he claims was an attempt to conceal the crime. These allegations are yet to be established through the ongoing investigation.
Police have registered a murder case against Balaknath, Bajrangnath, Mukeshnath, Loonnath, Lakshminarayan, and two other individuals.
Protests and Local Unrest
The incident triggered protests in the surrounding area, with villagers blocking the Salasar road and demanding swift action from authorities. Police personnel reached the spot and persuaded demonstrators to clear the blockade. Traffic was restored after approximately one hour.
What Happens Next
The cause and circumstances of Bannanath's death are expected to become clearer once post-mortem results and FSL findings are available. Police investigations are ongoing, and the full sequence of events leading to his death remains to be established through due process.
Point of View
Where informal authority and communal trust can delay official scrutiny. The 50-hour window between burial and exhumation underscores how quickly evidence can be compromised when deaths within such settings are not immediately reported to authorities. Rajasthan police now face pressure not just to establish cause of death, but to examine whether the alleged concealment reflects a broader failure of oversight around itinerant sadhus — a population with little administrative documentation and, often, no next-of-kin proximity. How swiftly the FSL results are processed and shared publicly will test institutional credibility here.
NationPress
9 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Bannanath and why was his body exhumed?
Bannanath was a saint from Haryana's Sirsa district who had renounced worldly life in 2004. His body was exhumed from a samadhi in Sangasar village, Rajasthan, nearly 50 hours after burial, following his brother Hansraj's allegation that he was beaten to death and secretly buried to conceal the crime.
Who has been booked in the Bannanath murder case?
Police have registered a murder case against seven people, including Balaknath, Bajrangnath, Mukeshnath, Loonnath, and Lakshminarayan. The accused are associated with the ashram in Rawatsar where Bannanath reportedly lived for the past two years.
What does the complainant allege happened to Bannanath?
According to the complaint filed by his brother Hansraj, Bannanath had a dispute with Balaknath and was allegedly beaten to death. Hansraj claims the accused buried him in a samadhi without informing the family in an attempt to hide the crime. These allegations have not yet been proven.
Where and when did the exhumation take place?
The exhumation took place on Thursday, 9 October, at Sangasar village in Ratangarh tehsil, Churu district, Rajasthan. It was carried out under orders from the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and supervised by Tehsildar Ankit Mimani, with medical and FSL teams present.
What happens next in the investigation?
The body has been shifted to the district hospital mortuary for a post-mortem examination, with FSL teams also involved. The cause of death is expected to be determined once results are available. Police continue to investigate the full circumstances surrounding Bannanath's death.
