Juna akhara to probe don’s ‘initiation’ | India News

HARIDWAR: Juna Akhara, the largest body of Naga seers, has formed a seven-member committee to investigate the initiation of underworld don Prakash Pandey into monkhood inside Almora jail earlier this month, with a report due within three months. The committee convened a meeting at Nagina in Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh, to determine their next steps.
Pandey, also known as PP, was allegedly initiated by five seers claiming to be from Juna Akhara, who anointed him ‘Swami Prakashanand Giri’.Sources said the akhara also entrusted Pandey with responsibilities for some ashrams in Uttarakhand.
However, Mahant Hari Giri, the international president of Juna Akhara, denied the allegations, stating that there is a detailed process to become a seer in the akhara. He added that action will be taken once the committee submits its findings after three months.
Meanwhile, activists have raised concerns about the duration of the probe. Ratanmani Dobhal, an activist, told TOI, “Pandey is not an undertrial but a convict serving a life sentence. How can someone in his position become a seer, especially a Naga seer, which involves a rigorous and complex process? Why has the akhara formed a committee and given it three months? This appears to be an illegal appointment.” In addition to his life sentence, Pandey faces multiple court cases, including those related to extortion, robbery, and murder.
This is not the first time Juna Akhara has anointed a controversial figure. In 2012, just before the Kumbh Mela, Radhe Ma was appointed as Mahamandaleshwar of Juna Akhara, only to be later listed as a “fake seer”. Other contentious appointments include Golden Baba, who also faced several criminal charges.