The founder of Kinnar Akhara, Rishi Ajay Das has expelled former Bollywood actress Mamta Kulkarni and Kinnar Akhara President Mahamandleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi from the Kinnar Akhara. He announced in a press statement released on Friday.
Rishi Ajay Das said that the appointment of Mamta Kulkarni had been conducted without his consent. Mahamandleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi was expelled on the grounds of committing alleged treason and appointing Mamta Kulkarni as a Mahamandleshwar, that too without the knowledge of Rishi Ajay Das. Further he said in his statement that Tripathi is been relieved from his role because he had always strayed from the post for which he had been appointed for the need of religious propagation and religious rituals as well as upliftment of Kinnar community, etc.
Rishi Ajay Das said that Mahamandleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi and the others have committed an unconstitutional act going against the principles of Sanatan Dharma by appointing Mamta Kulkarni. She is an actress belonging to the glamorous world of films, even accused of treason in the past. He said, “Without following any religious or akhada tradition, instead of making her renunciate, they directly conferred the title and patta of Mahamandleshwar on her. Due to which, today I am reluctantly compelled to relieve her from the post in the interest of the country, Sanatan Dharma and society.”
Rishi Das has also alleged that Mahamandleshwar Tripathi had made a deal with the Juna Akhara in the Kumbh Mela of Prayagraj in 2019 without his consent. Due to this deal, people were improperly joining Akharas. They became a part of the Akharas without practicing the necessary rituals or renunciating their worldly attachments. He further added, “In this way, they are cheating the lovers of Sanatan Dharma and the society. Therefore, it was necessary for me to give all this information in public interest and in the interest of religion through a press conference today.”
Kulkarni’s inclusion in the Akhara had drwan flak from all over the community where several members including Transgender Kathavachak Jagatguru Himani Sakhi Maa questioned the credibility of the actress’s appointment due to her past controversies related to drugs for which she was even jailed.