A sadhu considered close to several senior BJP leaders from Uttar Pradesh was arrested on Saturday on the charge of murdering a disciple, apparently after the man had threatened to expose illegal activities in the self-styled godman’s ashram.

The police have also arrested a sub-inspector deployed for Manindra Maharaj’s security since Adityanath became chief minister in 2017.

Police sources said the sub-inspector’s service revolver was used to kill Ravi Shankar, 30, the disciple.

The police registered a case against Maharaj, 55, and arrested him after realising that protests were mounting over the disciple’s murder in the ashram in Ninawali village in Rampura, Jalaun district.

Hundreds of people had been on dharna in front of the ashram since Thursday, when the disciple was shot dead. On Saturday, the mob had gone on the rampage, damaging many public and private vehicles.

The police also arrested Rajendra Tiwari, the sub-inspector assigned to protect Maharaj.

“The sadhu was arrested on the charge of killing Ravi Shankar and the police officer was arrested for being an accomplice in the conspiracy to kill the disciple. Further inquiry is in progress to gather more details,” Satish Kumar, superintendent of police, Jalaun, said.

Sources said Maharaj was known for his proximity to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, former Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Mahendranath Pandey, current state unit chief Swatantra Dev Singh and defence minister Rajnath Singh.

The ashram walls had framed photographs of some of these leaders seeking Maharaj’s blessings.

A senior BJP leader in the state, who didn’t want to be named, said: “We meet sadhus for their blessings. It doesn’t mean that we support whatever they do. But I agree that we should be careful in choosing whom to give importance. Swami Chinmayanand’s case has already damaged our image irreparably. The party leaders should issue an advisory to our leaders to avoid meeting those sadhus whose activities are not transparent.”

Chinmayanand, former minister of state for home in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, is in jail for sexually harassing a student.

Rajesh Kumar, a relative of the murdered disciple, said Ravi Shankar “had seen something illegal going on in the ashram” and had objected to it.

“The sadhu had tried to convince him that whatever was happening there was for the well-being of women in general. Ravi Shankar had refused to accept such activities and said that he would expose the baba.”

Before his arrest, Manindra said he was a victim of “political conspiracy of those who were opposed to the state government”.

Jalaun SP Satish Kumar said the police had also registered cases against eight identified and 60 unidentified people for rioting and damaging property during the protest demanding the arrest of the disciple’s murderer.

“We have identified those who took law and order in their own hands and are going to take legal action against them,” the police officer added.