Kumbh Mela 2025: Controversial Past Haunts Mamta Kulkarni As Actress Expelled From Kinnar Akhada

In a dramatic turn of events, Rishi Ajay Das, the founder of Kinnar Akhada, has expelled Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi and former actress Mamta Kulkarni from the Akhada.

What Is The Controversy All About?

Kulkarni's appointment was done without verifying her past and without the consent of its founder, according to a report in ANI.

In a press release released on Friday, Das added, "As the founder of Kinnar Akhada, I am hereby relieving Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi from his position as Acharya Mahamandaleshwar of the Kinnar Akhada, effective immediately. His appointment was made with the goal of promoting religious activities and uplifting the transgender community, but he has deviated from these responsibilities."

As per the report, the controversy also stems from a 2019 agreement Tripathi allegedly made with Juna Akhada without Ajay Das's approval. Das claims that the contract lacks legal validity due to his absence of consent and signature.

Further intensifying the dispute, Ajay Das accused Tripathi of compromising the Akhada's values by allowing Mamta Kulkarni to take on the prestigious Mahamandaleshwar title despite her past involvement in criminal activities. "By giving such a person the title of Mahamandaleshwar, what kind of guru are you offering to Sanatan Dharma? This is a question of ethics," he said.

Expulsion Triggers Debate

The decision to expel both individuals has sparked debate within the spiritual community. Mahant Ravindra Puri, President of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad, challenged the legitimacy of Ajay Das's move, questioning, "Who is he (Rishi Ajay Das) to expel Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi?"

However, Puri asserted that Tripathi and Kulkarni would continue their roles and participate in the upcoming Amrit Snan.

The controversy began when Tripathi publicly announced Kulkarni's appointment as Mahamandaleshwar during the Maha Kumbh. Once a popular actress in the 1990s, Kulkarni had withdrawn from the limelight in the early 2000s but recently resurfaced in India before receiving the title.