Fashion model-turned-self-styled spiritual guru Bhaiyyu Maharaj aka Udaysinh Deshmukh shocked his massive following, largely comprising politicians and celebrities, when news of his suicide in Indore broke on Tuesday. He had allegedly shot himself in the head, citing 'depression' and 'domestic issues' in his suicide note.

Condolences poured in from confused high-profile followers unable to comprehend why a spiritual trouble-shooter like him would take such an extreme step. "How can a guru who guided us when in trouble end his life this way?" was a common question on Tuesday. One politician said Bhaiyyu Maharaj had been working on preventing farmer suicides through his social projects in Maharashtra's cotton belt and elsewhere.