Bhubanswar: The Puri district administration on Thursday sent Russian citizen Andrei Glagoliv, who was earlier seen begging in front of the Jagannath temple, to his country's embassy in New Delhi.

Assistant director (tourism, Puri) Bijay Kumar Jena said: "We rescued him in the second week of December from near the Shree Jagannath Temple from among other beggars. We put him up in a shelter house and sent him to the New Delhi by the Puri-New Delhi Purushottam Express in the morning."

The tourism department also asked the Railway Protection Force to take care of Glagoliv during his journey.

Jena said: "We spoke to embassy officials. He has applied for refugee status with the United Nations and his case will be taken up on January 8. If his appeal is cancelled in United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the embassy will make arrangements to send him back to Russia."

As a mark of courtesy, the district administration gave him Rs 4,300 in cash. "During his stay in Puri, we had taken care of his food and clothing. The administration spent around Rs 9,000 during his stay."

Expressing a desire to stay in India, Glagoliv said: "I am happy with the treatment and love given to me by the people of Puri. The administration has taken care of me. India is a beautiful country and I will come back again."

Sources said Glagoliv had already embraced Hinduism and was in love with Lord Jagannath, Lord Krishna and Lord Shiv. He came to Puri via Vrindavan and Mathura. He had even landed a job in Mathura, but later quit to come to Puri. He used to sing devotional songs and ask people for donations.