Mathura police have arrested a Hindu priest from Vivek Vihar in New Delhi with 40 swords that he allegedly wanted to sell to his followers for an attack on the Shahi Idgah Masjid located beside the Krishna Janmasthan temple in the town.

Sant Yuvraj Maharaj runs the Hindu Sena, a little-known outfit, from his Brajdham Ashram in Ranhera under Shergah police station in Mathura city.

A police team conducted a raid at the home of a disciple of Yuvraj in the national capital on Monday afternoon and arrested the sadhu.

A police officer in Lucknow, who didn’t wish to be identified, said: “Yuvraj was provoking his disciples in Mathura to buy swords from him and attack the Islamic symbols in the city. Some people even bought swords from him last week. However, we deployed a huge force at the Shahi Idgah on Tuesday as it is always the primary target of such elements.”

Martand Prakash Singh, superintendent of police of Mathura city, said Yuvraj was arrested and sent to Mathura jail.

“We have recovered 40 swords from his possession. He was booked under the Arms Act,” he added.

“The police had registered the first case against him early this month at Mathura’s Govindnagar police station for spreading communal hatred through a video on November 28. He had made objectionable remarks against the Shahi Idgah in the video,” Singh said.

A video circulating on social media shows a man resembling Yuvraj marketing his swords and asking Hindus to buy them.

“This sword is made of rail metal and it can last 30 years. We are giving these swords with a licence. It costs Rs 1,250 apiece. We used to take some advance for booking. Now it’s (booking amount) free,” the man in the video says in Hindi.

“This sword will be delivered to your house. It is a strong sword; it is 3.25 feet long and weighs over 1.25kg… Its handle is made of iron. All the Sanatani Hindus must keep this sword in their houses,” the man says.

He then goes on to make some objectionable comments against Islam and stresses that the followers of Islam could only be checked by swords.