LUCKNOW: Former Bollywood actor Mamta Kulkarni’s anointment as Mahamandaleshwar (religious superior) of the Kinnar Akhara has sparked controversy after Rishi Ajay Das, who claims to be a founding member of the akhara, removed Kinnar Akhara Acharya Mahamandeleshwar Dr Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi, from her post. Tripathi hit back immediately, questioning the locus standi of Ajay Das claiming that he was not even a member of the akhara on Friday.
Ajay Das posted a letter dated January 30, 2025, on social media on Friday saying the action against Tripathi was initiated as she conferred Mamta Kulkarni with the title of Mahamandaleshwar of Kinnar Akhara defying the regulations for anointment of someone to the religious post.
Hitting out at Tripathi, Rishi Ajay Das said, “Tripathi did not do anything that could uplift the Kinnar akhara, rather, making an actress the Mahamandaleshwar, that too, a person who left the country as a traitor, forced me to take this action.”
Responding to the remarks, Tripathi said, “He (Ajay Das) is not even a member of the Akhara which was registered by me. A letter issued by him deserves nothing more than a dustbin.”
Tripathi said Das did not have any ground to issue a letter on behalf of Kinnar Akhara.