A local court in Varanasi has registered a complaint case against Kashi Vishwanath Temple Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Shambhusharan following a complaint filed by a devotee alleging misbehaviour with devotees on the temple premises.
The action was carried out as part of the ongoing campaign launched by the Commissioner of Police, Varanasi, against crime and wanted and absconding accused. The matter was heard in the court of Special Judge (SC/ST Act) Sudhakar Rai, which ordered the formal registration of the complaint. In its procedural order, the court also noted that the accused official will be given an opportunity to be heard before any decision is taken regarding the issuance of a summons.
The court has scheduled November 3 for recording the complainant’s statement. The arrests were made by the Chowk Police on August 19 near Gate No. 4 of the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple based on CCTV footage and information from a local informant. Police said the accused were arrested under Section 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and further legal proceedings are underway.
A month earlier, in a separate incident, five people were arrested for allegedly misbehaving with pilgrims and tourists and extorting money from them on the pretext of arranging easy darshan at the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple, police said. The accused allegedly approached pilgrims and visitors in the name of facilitating easy darshan at the temple and extorted money from them, according to police.
