He said both had already been expelled from the Kinnar Akhara, but demanded further action against them, also accusing Harigiri, General Secretary of the Akhara Parishad, of shielding them.
The controversy over Mamta’s statement
During her three-day spiritual visit to Gorakhpur, Mamta visited the Gorakhnath Temple, met saints, and attended a bhajan sandhya. On Tuesday, she allegedly said Dawood Ibrahim “did not commit any bomb blasts and is not a terrorist.”
Later, Mamta clarified that her words were misrepresented, saying she never met Dawood and is now “fully devoted to spirituality,” with no ties to films or politics.
Founder’s reaction: “They wear fake saffron robes”
After the video went viral, Rishi Ajay Das issued a public statement condemning both Mamta and Laxmi Narayan.
“We had expelled Mamta Kulkarni and Laxmi Narayan Tripathi on February 30 itself. Yet yesterday in Gorakhpur, Mamta defended Dawood in the presence of fake Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi. Both are frauds wearing fake saffron robes,” he said.
He accused Harigiri of Juna Akhara of supporting the duo for personal gain, demanding immediate action against him as well.
Letter issued removing Laxmi Narayan from post
Rishi Ajay Das also released a letter officially removing Laxmi Narayan Tripathi from her post:
“As the founder of Kinnar Akhara, I hereby remove Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, appointed during the 2015–16 Ujjain Kumbh, from her position. She has strayed from the mission of promoting religion and uplifting the Kinnar community,” he stated.
He alleged that Tripathi had signed a pact with Juna Akhara during the 2019 Prayagraj Kumbh without his approval, calling it a “420 act.”
“Kinnar Akhara’s registration is in my name”
Das emphasized that the official registration and land allotment of the Ujjain Kinnar Akhara are under his name and that the Prayagraj High Court has recognized him as its founder.
He further added that both Mamta and Laxmi Narayan, who claim to be Mahamandaleshwar and Acharya, respectively, have no legitimate authority within the Akhara.
Himangi Sakhi: “Mamta is Dawood’s puppet”
Transgender World Guru Himangi Sakhi also condemned Mamta’s remarks, alleging that she could be “Dawood’s puppet.”
“Mamta Kulkarni is calling herself Mahamandaleshwar — no one knows what game she plans to play with Sanatan Dharma. She might even be involved in anti-national activities. A proper investigation must be conducted,” Himangi said.
Women’s Commission reacts
Uttar Pradesh Women’s Commission Chairperson Babita Chauhan also criticized Mamta’s statement, calling it “disturbing.”
“I believe Mamta Kulkarni needs treatment. The entire world knows who Dawood Ibrahim is — there is enough proof of his crimes. Some truths need no explanation,” she said during a media interaction in Bareilly.
The uproar continues to grow, with religious bodies and social organizations demanding clarification from Mamta and stricter action against those allegedly misusing religious identities for personal motives.
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