BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey, Manoj Tiwari booked for ‘forcible entry’ into Baba Baidyanath Temple’s ‘sanctum sanctorum’

Deogha: The Jharkhand Police on Friday said it has filed an FIR against BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey, Manoj Tiwari, and others for allegedly entering the sanctum sanctorum of the Baba Baidyanath Temple in Deoghar during the holy month of ‘Shravan’, in violation of restrictions. 

The case, registered at the Baba Baidyanath Mandir Police Station, is based on a complaint by temple priest Kartik Nath Thakur. He alleged that on August 2, between 8:45 pm and 9 pm, the MPs and their associates “forcibly” entered the inner shrine during the kancha jal puja ritual, disrupting prayers and hurting religious sentiments.

According to the complaint, the group also engaged in a scuffle with police personnel deployed for security, leading to fear and panic among devotees and a “stampede-like situation” inside the crowded temple premises. VIP and VVIP entry into the inner shrine is barred during ‘Shravan’ to manage the heavy influx of pilgrims.

Over 55 lakh ‘Kanwariyas’ have so far offered Ganga water at the temple this Shravan Mela, while nearly two lakh devotees have used the ‘Shighra Darshanam’ fast-track facility. The temple reported an income of around ₹7.5 crore between July 11 and August 5 from various sources.

Reacting to the FIR, Dubey posted on X: “This case has been registered for worshipping… So far, 51 cases have been registered against me. Tomorrow, I will go straight to the police station from Deoghar airport for my arrest.” Manoj Tiwari has not issued a statement. Check out the post here:

This is not the first controversy involving the two MPs. In August 2022, they were booked along with seven others for allegedly pressuring Air Traffic Control officials at Deoghar airport to clear a late-night take-off for their chartered flight. That case was quashed by the Supreme Court in January this year.