Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Friday filed a police complaint against an unidentified man, who allegedly climbed onto the chariot of Devi Subhadra during the recently concluded Rath Yatra in Puri by impersonating a servitor.
The temple administration has requested a formal investigation and legal action, warning that any disrespect toward temple rules and customs will lead to strict consequences.
The action followed a viral social media post in which the individual was seen standing on Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalana.” We noticed the post on July 29 and urged police to identify the person and initiate action. His act amounts to cheating and impersonation,” SJTA chief administrator Arabinda Kumar Padhee told TOI.
Though the FIR does not specify the exact date of the incident, temple authorities believe it occurred while the chariots were parked, either outside Gundicha Temple after Rath Yatra on July 16 or in front of Shree Jagannath Temple following Bahuda Yatra on July 24, since the man was not present during the pulling of the chariots.
Police at Singhadwar station are reviewing footage and other leads to trace the suspect.
Padhee emphasised that strict instructions had been issued ahead of the festival prohibiting impersonation, stressing that only duty-bound servitors are allowed on the chariots and that legal action would follow against violators. Similar FIRs have been registered in previous years against individuals, who attempted to climb the chariots by posing as servitors.
Access to the chariots is restricted under temple guidelines and a 2014 Orissa High Court directive limiting boarding to authorised servitors on duty.
SJTA sources added that two other men dressed as servitors were caught attempting to climb the chariots during this year’s Bahuda Yatra. They were immediately removed by temple authorities, preventing any breach of ritual protocol, and no FIRs were filed against them.
