Lucknow: The multi-crore empire of god man Jai Gurudev is said to be the reason behind the violence in Mathura in which 24 people have been killed.

Jai Gurudev, who passed away in 2012, was based in Mathura and is said to have properties worth over Rs 12,000 crore, apart from 250 luxury cars — all supposedly got from his devotees. He has a palatial ashram in Mathura and properties in several cities.

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Originally named Tulsidas Yadav, the godman had set up the Doordarshi Party that also contested elections in Uttar Pradesh. He wielded a considerable clout in the rural interiors of the state and his followers were known by their unique dress style – kurtas made of jute.

After Jai Gurudev’s death, his empire was inherited by his driver Pankaj Yadav as per a will left behind by the god man. Ram Vraksh Yadav, also a staunch disciple of the godman, was apparently irked by this and formed a splinter group with other supporters.

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Ram Vraksh and his supporters occupied the Jawahar Bagh under the pseudo name of Swadheen Bharat Vidhik Satyagrahis and on the pretext of holding a satyagrah. They were allegedly being funded by their supporters and if reports are to be believed, Ram Vraksh was determined to wrest away the empire of Jai Gurudev from Pankaj Yadav and was building up resources for the ‘final battle’.