Mamta Kulkarni Claps Back At Dhirendra Shastri, Baba Ramdev; Opens Up About Her Financial Crisis

Mumbai: Mamta Kulkarni, who was conferred the title of ‘Mahamandleshwar’, but was later relieved from the post following controversy, addressed the allegations levied against her on Rajat Sharma’s ‘Aap Ki Adalat.’

Clapping back at Baba Ramdev and Dhirendra Krishna Shastri of Bageshwar Dham, who had questioned her getting ‘Mahamandleshwar’ title, Mamta said she has meditated for as many years as Shahstri’s age and the saints should fear God for doubting and questioning her.

“Dhirendra Shastri is just a naive boy. I have meditated for as long as he has been alive-25 years. I suggest he ask his guru about who I am and stay silent,” she said.

“What should I even say to Baba Ramdev? He should fear Mahakal and Mahakali,” she added while addressing his allegations.

Reacting to the claims that she gave a bribe of ₹10 crore to become the ‘Mahamandaleshwar’, the former actress said that she is going through a financial crisis as her bank accounts have been seized by the government.

“Mere pass ₹10 crore kya ₹1 crore bhi nahi hai. Mere bank accounts seize kar diye hai government ne. Aapko malum nahi hai main kis tarah se reh rahi hun. Mere pass paise nahi hai, kisi se udhar leke ₹2 lakh, voh bhi jo guru ko dakshina deni hoti hai. (Forget ₹10 crore; I do not have even ₹1 crore with me. The government has seized my bank accounts. You don’t know how I am surviving. I have no money. I had to borrow ₹2 lakh from somebody to offer as ‘dakshina’ to my guru when I was made Mahamandaleshwar),” she said.

She added, while talking about her plight, “Three of my apartments are in a state of disrepair, infested with termites, because they have remained closed for the past 23 years. I cannot even begin to describe the financial crisis I am going through.”

Mamta was made the ‘Mahamandaleshwar’ of the Kinnar Akhara during the Mahakumbh at Prayagraj. However, within a week, she was removed from the post following internal tension within the community.

Questioning Mamta’s appointment as Mahamandleswar, Baba Ramdev said, “One does not attain sainthood in a day; it requires years of rigorous penance. Nowadays, I see people being randomly given the title of Mahamandaleshwar. This is not how it works.”

On January 31, the founder of the Kinnar Akhara, Rishi Ajay Das issued a press statement announcing the removal of Mamta from the post of Mahamandleswar. “Without following any religious or akhara tradition, and without making her a renunciate first, she was directly conferred the title and patta of Mahamandaleshwar. Therefore, in the interest of the country, Sanatan Dharma, and society, I am reluctantly compelled to relieve her from the post,” he stated.

You can watch the interview here: