Spiritual guru Jai Guru Dev is no more now. But his followers still throng this sprawling ashram situated 150 km from Delhi on Agra-Mathura highway. Ram Vriksha Yadav called Jai Gurudev his spiritual guru.
Jai Gurudev is known as ‘param saint’ among his followers. He had been propagating spirituality since 1952.
Jai Gurudev is accused of taking possession of 150 hectares of farmers’ land. Farmers allege that despite being the owner of the land, they were being forced to work as farm labourers.
This land was acquired by UPSIDC in 1973 from farmers. Baba Jai Gurudev’s land was among the acquired land. Farmers and Jai Gurudev moved court against the acquisition. Allahabad high court ordered returned the land to its owners. Jai Guru Dev got his land back but farmers didn’t. Jai Guru Dev allegedly took possession of farmers’ land using force.
Farmers have now moved Mathura court demanding possession of their land. The matter is pending for the past 35 years.
It is being alleged that Jai Guru Dev himself said to leave the possession after exacting 50 per cent of the price of land. In 1999, farmers had asked administrations help in the matter. Then, ADM had written in his report that the matter was between Jai Gurudev and Farmers and hence it cannot be solved.