Devprakashs Madhukar, the principal accused in the Hathras stampede case, surrendered to authorities in Delhi on Friday night, according to top sources in the Uttar Pradesh police. The surrender comes less than 24 hours before preacher Bhole Baba issued his first public statement expressing his sorrow over the deadly incident that occurred on July 2, claiming 121 lives.
In his statement, Bhole Baba, whose real name is Surajpal alias Narayan Sakar Hari, conveyed his deep distress and solidarity with the victims. “We are distressed after the incident of July 2. May God give us the strength to overcome this sorrow. We should have faith in the government administration. Culprits will not be spared,” he said. He emphasized his commitment to support the victims and cooperate with the authorities.
Bhole Baba’s lawyer previously announced the preacher’s willingness to cooperate with the investigation and the state administration. This statement followed Bhole Baba’s disappearance after the stampede during his religious congregation.
Although Bhole Baba is not named in the FIR related to the incident, Madhukar, the chief organizer of the satsang, is the only accused mentioned in the FIR filed at the Sikandrarau police station in Hathras.
In a video message, Madhukar’s lawyer, AP Singh, confirmed that his client surrendered in Delhi, where he had been receiving medical treatment. “Today, we have surrendered Devprakash Madhukar, who has been called the main organiser in the FIR in the Hathras case, after calling the police, the SIT and the STF in Delhi since he was undergoing treatment here,” Singh stated. He added that Madhukar did not seek anticipatory bail, maintaining that they had done no wrong.
Singh stressed the need for authorities to consider Madhukar’s health condition during questioning. “We did not do anything like filing anticipatory bail or moving court, which would have been viewed as an effort to save ourselves and being scared… questions were being raised about his (Madhukar) whereabouts and if he had run away,” he said.
Madhukar is expected to provide information about the “anti-social elements” present at the event. The police had earlier announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to his arrest.
Supreme Court lawyer AP Singh, who also represents Bhole Baba, mentioned on July 3 that some “anti-social elements” were behind the tragedy. He reaffirmed Bhole Baba’s readiness to cooperate with the investigation.
As of July 4, six individuals, including two women volunteers from the satsang’s organizing committee, have been arrested. The FIR, lodged on July 2, includes charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, attempt to commit culpable homicide, wrongful restraint, disobedience to a public servant’s order, and causing disappearance of evidence.
The Uttar Pradesh government has constituted a three-member judicial commission, led by a retired high court judge, to probe the incident and investigate potential conspiracy elements behind the stampede.
