India, Jan. 31 -- In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing power tussle within the Kinnar Akhara, its self-proclaimed founder Rishi Ajay Das has expelled former Bollywood actress Mamta Kulkarni and Mahamandaleshwar Laxminarayan Tripathi, accusing them of betrayal and treason. The move follows a heated controversy over Kulkarni's appointment and allegations that Tripathi compromised the Akhara's religious sanctity.

Ajay Das, in a strongly worded statement, declared that Tripathi had deviated from the Akhara's core mission of spiritual propagation and upliftment of the transgender community. He further claimed that Tripathi's secret dealings with Juna Akhara during the 2019 Kumbh Mela led to unauthorized inductions without adherence to trad...