India, Feb. 4 -- Following complaints of middlemen intercepting devotees' vehicles on roads and around the Sai Baba Samadhi temple in Shirdi only to force them to purchase puja material (at inflated prices) from specific shops or use private parking facilities, the district administration has initiated preventive action against such agents who harass and exploit devotees.

Sub-divisional magistrate of Shirdi division, Manik Aher, has issued conditional orders under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita to curb such activities and maintain law and order, officials said on Tuesday.

Aher told Hindustan Times, "Several complaints have been received of local agents or shop owners misleading devotees and forcing them to buy prasad, flowers an...