FIR Filed Against BJP MPs Over Temple Entry
Jharkhand Police have booked Nishikant Dubey and Manoj Tiwari for allegedly "forcibly" entering the sanctum sanctorum of the Baba Baidyanath Temple during the holy month of 'Shravan'.
- The Jharkhand Police have registered an FIR against BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey and Manoj Tiwari for “forcibly” entering the Baba Baidyanath Temple in Deoghar on August 2.
- The complaint, filed by a temple priest, alleges that the MPs violated a restriction on VIP entry during the holy month of ‘Shravan’ and caused a “stampede-like situation.”
- Nishikant Dubey posted on X that he will surrender, calling the case a result of “worshipping,” and also filed a privilege case against four senior state officials.
GG News Bureau
Ranchi, 9th Aug: Jharkhand Police have registered an FIR against BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey and Manoj Tiwari, along with several others, for allegedly “forcibly” entering the sanctum sanctorum of the Baba Baidyanath Temple in Deoghar on August 2. The police said the MPs’ actions hurt religious sentiments and caused obstruction to government work.
The FIR was lodged based on a complaint from temple priest Kartik Nath Thakur, who alleged that the MPs entered the inner shrine between 8:45 pm and 9:00 pm despite a strict ban on VIP or VVIP entries during the holy month of ‘Shravan’. The complaint further stated that the MPs and their group got into a “scuffle” with police personnel, which created a “stampede-like situation” and fear among thousands of devotees present.
Following the news, Nishikant Dubey responded in a post on X, claiming the case was registered against him “for worshipping.” He also announced that he would go to the police station for his arrest and noted that this was his 51st case. Separately, Dubey has filed a privilege case against four top Jharkhand officials, including the chief secretary and the director general of police, alleging that the FIR was a misuse of authority.
The incident occurred during the ongoing month-long ‘Shravan Mela,’ a significant pilgrimage for lakhs of ‘Kanwariyas’ who offer holy Ganga water at the temple, one of the twelve ‘Jyotirlingas.’ This is not the first time the two MPs have faced controversy. A similar FIR was filed against them in 2022 for allegedly entering the Air Traffic Control (ATC) room at the Deoghar airport, a case that was later quashed by the Supreme Court in January.
