Abhay Singh, popularly known an ‘IITian Baba’ who become an overnight sensation after his interviews went viral in Maha Kumbh 2025, was expelled from the Juna Akhara on Saturday.
The expulsion comes amid allegations of the IITian Baba using abusive language directed at his Guru, Mahant Someshwar Puri, a report in The Times of India said.
Singh has reportedly been banned from entering the Akhara camp and its surroundings. The report of his expulsion from the akhara comes shortly after the Baba, who gained traction for his knowledge on spirituality, went missing from the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj on Saturday.
“The act of Abhey Singh goes against the Guru-Shishya (master-disciple) tradition and the principles of Sanyas. Disrespecting one’s Guru shows a lack of respect for Sanatan Dharma and the Akhara. Discipline is of utmost importance in Juna Akhara, and no one is above it—not me, nor anyone like Singh,” Mahant Hari Giri, Chief Patron of Juna Akhara, said.
The IITian Baba has been one of the centres of attraction at the grand festival as his videos on social media were viral and people flocked to meet him.
Mahant Giri said that the members of the Akhara must maintain strict discipline and no one is allowed to speak against a fellow seer.
“Not only the Guru, but no one is allowed to speak against a fellow seer. Based on this violation, the Akhara’s disciplinary committee recommended his expulsion,” Giri added.
Another member of the Juna Akhara said that the viral ‘baba’ was not associated with the Akhara. He went on to say that Abhay Singh was defaming the Akhara and “was a vagabond, not a sadhu.”
The ‘Baba’ was living in the Solah Mani Ashram of Juna Akhara. Meanwhile, Someshwar Puri had said that there was no information about his whereabouts.
Abhey Singh, a disciple of Mahant Someshwar Puri of Juna Akhara, left his career in aerospace engineering after graduating from IIT-Bombay to become a saint.
Another sadhu from Juna Akhara, speaking on his disappearance, said that Abhay Singh had become arrogant, believing that many people were inquiring about him and coming to meet him.
Abhay Singh, a Haryana native, he studied aerospace engineering at IIT Bombay. He received the moniker “IITian Baba” for his academic background and fluent English communication. In an interview with News18, he said, “After pursuing engineering, I ventured into travel photography. I went to Arts from engineering…However, sustaining myself was challenging without a steady job, so I taught physics at a coaching institute for a year.”
