16-year-old Anuj went missing from Premanand Maharajs Keli Kunj, Barsana police found him at an ashram.

Barsana, October 3, 2026: A 16-year-old boy, who had been missing for three months after visiting the Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj Ashram of Premanand Maharaj in Vrindavan, was safely located by police on Saturday evening. The teenager, identified as Anuj Chaudhary, 17, from Kheda Baramai village in Sadabad, Hathras, was discovered residing at the Ladli Das Ashram, situated on Radha Bagh Road in Barsana.

Disappearance and Search Efforts

Anuj, who reportedly had a profound interest in spiritual pursuits, left his home in Sadabad on July 3, informing his family that he intended to seek the blessings of Premanand Maharaj. According to family members, Anuj had received initiation at the ashram on June 26 and had even shared details about his new life path on social media platforms. Following his departure, his family filed a missing person report at the Sadabad police station. His grandmother, Munni Devi, relocated to her parental home in Panigaon, Vrindavan, to assist in the intensive search for the teenager. The family searched various religious sites, including the Radhavallabh Temple, Jugal Ghat, Ladli Van, Sovari Van, and Belvan, without success.

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Escalation was at the Ashram

Tensions rose as weeks passed without any definitive information regarding Anuj’s whereabouts. The family alleged that the management of the Keli Kunj Ashram failed to provide clear answers regarding the boy’s status. The disappearance of another disciple at a different facility, Guru Kripa Kunj, further exacerbated the family’s fears, leading them to stage a protest outside the Keli Kunj Ashram gates on Friday. The protest prompted a swift response from local authorities, with the Circle Officer (CO) of Vrindavan giving an assurance that the boy would be located within three days.

Discovery in Barsana

Upon learning that his family was protesting at the ashram gates, Anuj reportedly left the Keli Kunj premises unnoticed and sought refuge at the Ladli Das Ashram in Barsana. He was found by police on Saturday evening dressed in the traditional attire of a renunciate, having shaved his head and wearing white clothing adorned with large Tulsi necklaces and a tilak. His relative, Jitendra, stated that the family received a call from the Barsana police on Saturday evening confirming that the boy had been found. While the family arrived at the police station to reunite with him, they noted that the police did not allow direct interaction with the teenager during the initial processing.

Police and Administrative Response

Following the discovery, the Sadabad police were dispatched to Barsana to take custody of the boy, while his parents and grandmother traveled to the town overnight in hopes of meeting him. The case highlights the complex emotions surrounding the spiritual commitments of young individuals and the resulting distress for their families. While reports indicate that Anuj had expressed a desire to distance himself from his worldly life, the incident underscores the collaborative efforts of local law enforcement across Hathras and the Mathura district to resolve the missing persons case. As of late Saturday night, the situation remained under police oversight as the family prepared to bring Anuj back to his home in Sadabad.