Underworld don Prakash Pandey alias PP, lodged in a jail in Uttarakhand, was given the title of Mahant and was renamed Prakashanand Giri. After chanting mantras as part of the ritual, the gangster was made to wear a ‘Rudraksha’ garland and ‘Kanthi’. When this matter came to light, the government ordered an inquiry into it. The Home Department has appointed Additional Inspector General of Prison Administration Yashwant Chauhan as the investigating officer for this, who will submit the investigation report to the government within a week.
According to news agency PTI, PP, who is involved in several cases of murder, robbery and extortion, was initiated by two sadhus inside Almora jail on September 5. The sadhus, who claimed to be from the Panch Dashnam Juna Akhara, also gave Pandey a new name Prakashanand Giri after the ceremony. There was another person in the jail with the sadhus who played the role of mediator in the entire process. Meanwhile, Juna Akhara has also formed its own investigation committee to investigate the matter.
On the other hand, this matter was also discussed in the meeting of the National Executive of Juna Akhara, the largest Akhara of saints and sages. In the meeting held on Saturday in Nagina, Uttar Pradesh, the Akhada’s international patron Mahant Hari Giri constituted a seven-member committee under the chairmanship of the body’s national president Mahant Prem Giri to investigate the matter. Later in Haridwar, Mahant Hari Giri said that the committee will investigate every aspect of the matter, including any kind of money transaction.
The committee of saints will submit its report in three months
He said that the committee will submit its report to the national executive in three months, on which necessary action will be taken after discussion in the central executive. Meanwhile, mediating Krishna Kandpal and the saints held a press conference in Almora after the initiation ceremony, where they explained the reason for giving the title to the gangster.
‘PP was impressed by brother’s patriotism’
Speaking to the media, Kandpal said, “When I met PP bhai, I was impressed by his patriotic spirit. He had once entered Pakistan to kill Dawood Ibrahim. He had also entered Vietnam to kill someone else, but was arrested as a red-corner notice was issued against him. He expressed his desire to follow the spiritual path. I spoke to the saints and they agreed to initiate him. It was a small initiation program. A bigger and more elaborate initiation program will be held in Prayagraj Kumbh in 2025.”
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)