There is a huge uproar in the sadhu community over the secret appointment of underworld don Prakash Pandey alias PP, who is lodged in Almora jail, as Mahant. Neither the jail administration nor the police were aware of the initiation of PP in jail and his declaration as the successor of the monasteries. When the matter escalated, everyone came on the back foot.
According to sources, the government has taken cognizance of the matter and has sought answers from the district and jail administration. Now the district and jail administration have to give clarification. Prakash Pandey alias PP, notorious in the world of crime, is originally a resident of Ranikhet in Almora. He has been in jail since 2010.
On the other hand, Juna Akhara has formed an inquiry committee in the matter of making PP the Mahant. A seven-member committee has been formed in the meeting of saints of Juna Akhara in Nagina, UP under the chairmanship of Mahant Harigiri Maharaj, the international patron of Juna Akhara. Premgiri Maharaj said that the names of the members will be announced on Sunday.
Mahant Harigiri Maharaj said that the saints who took action to appoint a Mathadhish or Mahamandleshwar will also be brought under the ambit of investigation. He said that if the investigation proves that any saint took money to appoint PP as Mahant, then he will be expelled from the Akhara.
This announcement of Juna Akhara has created a great stir in the sadhu community. The noose is tightening on those who gave initiation to PP inside the jail. On Saturday, a meeting of the saints of Juna Akhara was held in Nagina. In the meeting, the saints expressed concern about the whole episode. Mahant Hari Giri Maharaj said that the matter is serious. Action will be taken against the saints whose role will come to light in this.
On the other hand, Almora Jail Superintendent Jayant Pangti says that many people had come to meet Prakash Pandey alias PP. Citing rules, the jail administration allowed only three people to enter. They rejected the application for conducting partial rituals in the jail. No rituals of any kind were conducted in the jail. All three were allowed to meet PP under the supervision of security personnel.
Let us tell you that PP remained in the headlines while he was in Chamoli jail from Dasitarganj. Even after being shifted to the jail of his home district this year, PP’s name has been in discussions somewhere or the other. This is not the first case of sanyasis meeting PP. It had started in March itself. When Acharya Dandi Nath of Nepal’s Nath sect had initiated PP into sanyas for the first time. At that time also the matter of ritual had come up, but the jail administration had washed its hands off the matter by saying that it was a normal meeting.