Daijiworld Media Network - Ujjain

Ujjain, Mar 6: A fraud and breach of trust case has been registered against Hindu seer Shanti Swaroopanand Maharaj, a BJP leader, and two others in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain following directions from a local court, police officials confirmed on Thursday.

According to Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Nitesh Bhargava, the FIR was lodged against Niranjani Akhada Mahamandaleshwar Shanti Swaroopanand Maharaj, BJP leader Ashok Prajapati, Mahaveer Prasad Mansinghka, and Omprakash Agrawal. They have been booked under Sections 420 (cheating) and 419 (cheating by personation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The case stems from a complaint filed by Sohil Patel, who alleged that Parmanand Maharaj was the rightful lifelong president of Ujjain’s Akhand Ashram Trust, as per its bylaws. However, Patel claimed that Shanti Swaroopanand falsely declared himself as the trust’s president and, in 2022, entered into an agreement with him to lease the ashram’s Yatri Niwas for a monthly rent of ?3 lakh and a 50% share in net profits.

Attempts to contact the accused, including Swaroopanand Maharaj and Prajapati, were unsuccessful, as they did not respond to calls, said Mahakal police station in-charge Narendra Singh Parihar.

Meanwhile, Akhil Bharatiya Pujari Mahasangh’s national president, Mahesh Pujari, has written to the Madhya Pradesh government, demanding that Swaroopanand Maharaj step down as Mahamandaleshwar (head priest). He also urged the Akhada Parishad president to take action against him, highlighting that both are part of the Niranjani Akhada.

With legal proceedings underway, the controversy has sparked intense debate within religious and political circles in Madhya Pradesh.