Nasik, Oct 08: The district court here released on bail two mahants of Vrindavan's Swami Ishwarpuri Ashram -- Swami Gyanprakash and Mukeshdas-- against whom police had registered cases in connection with the stampede during the Kumbh Mela on August 27 in which 29 pilgrims were killed and more than 100 injured. "The Judge N V Deshpande, released both of them on bail yesterday, after they themselves appeared before the court in connection with the case", according to their Advocate Rajendra Bhutda here today.

Police had registered cases against two mahants and 25 sadhus of the Jagnnath Khalsa for allegedly throwing silver coins in the city's Sardar Chowk locality while they were proceeding for shahi snan (royal bath) which caused a stampede of pilgrims to collect the coins. Twenty-nine pilgrims were killed and 118 were injured in the incident.

Bureau Report