The body of one of india's wealthiest spiritual leaders is at the centre of a legal dispute between his family and his followers.

His Holiness Shri Ashutosh Maharaj ji, who founded the Hindu sect Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan, appears to have died in January, but his followers contest this. Based at his ashram in the city of Jalandhar, they claim that their leader, worth an estimated £100 million, is simply in a state of deep meditation, or Samadhi.

Since his 'death', followers have stored him in a freezer to preserve him till he awakes. His family say that he was killed by a heart attack and that this is merely a ploy by his followers to control his finances.

The Telegraph quotes a disciple as saying, "Maharaj has been in deep meditation. He has spent many years meditating in sub-zero temperatures in the Himalayas, there is nothing unusual in it. He will return to life as soon as he feels and we will ensure his body is preserved until then"

Local police initially confirmed the death, but the Punjab High Court disagreed, saying it was a spiritual matter. The family have petitioned the court to investigate the death and finally have him declared dead.