Kanpur (UP): A controversy has erupted at the Baba Shri Bhuteshwar Dham Temple in Keshavpuram after a photograph purportedly showing a priest consuming non-vegetarian food surfaced on social media. In the wake of public outrage, the priest, identified as Prashant Giri alias Golu Pandit, has been removed from his duties by his father, the temple’s head priest.

The incident escalated on Sunday night when a mob of 50 to 60 people stormed the temple premises. According to police reports, the crowd dragged the priest from his room and allegedly assaulted him while demanding an explanation for the viral image.
 

Santosh Giri, the Mahant (chief priest) of the temple, confirmed the identity of the man in the photo but clarified his own position while announcing the expulsion: "I am the mahant of the temple, not my son. As soon as I came to know that he had eaten non-vegetarian food, I expelled him from service at the temple," Santosh Giri told reporters.

The Mahant also alleged that the mob did not spare his family during the confrontation: "Some people, including Rahul Chandel, Manish Chaudhary and Ajay Chauhan, along with a few others, beat up my son and said he could not stay here. When my wife and daughter-in-law tried to save him, they were also assaulted."

While the police have initiated preventive action against Prashant Giri for "breach of peace”, his current location remains unknown. His father expressed deep concern over his disappearance: "I do not know where my son is now. I am very disturbed and leaving everything to Baba Bhuteshwar (Lord Shiva)."

Local authorities are currently examining the matter to determine the authenticity of the photograph and investigate the allegations of assault against the priest and his family.

PTI