A mahant in Uttar Pradesh who is believed to be close to the highest echelons of power has been accused by a long-time disciple of nefariously selling land belonging to a 900-year-old akhara to mint cash and benefit his friends and relatives.

Narendra Giri, the mahant of the Niranjani Akhara in Allahabad and also the president of the All-India Akhara Parishad — an umbrella outfit of the country’s 13 akharas — has denied the allegation of illegal sale levelled by Anand Giri and claimed he had taken the consent of other senior members of the akhara.

Anand Giri, a yoga guru, said in Allahabad on Saturday: “Despite my repeated requests to the senior members of the Niranjani Akhara to probe the irregularities committed by Narendra Giri, they have been ignoring it perhaps out of fear of our guru.”

“I had also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Yogi Adityanath to order an investigation against Narendra Giri. I have furnished evidences of how he illegally sold several acres of land of the akhara in Allahabad over the past few years. I will move court if there is any further delay in initiating action against him,” said Anand Giri, who became a sadhu in 2002 under the supervision of Narendra Giri and accepted him as his spiritual father.

“It is painful to say all this because according to Hindu tradition, he became my spiritual father after I took sanyas. But he is playing with the future of thousands of sadhus attached to the Niranjani Akhara,” added Anand Giri, who was expelled on May 16, a day after he first raised his voice against mahant Narendra Giri.

Anand Giri alleged that Narendra Giri, believed to be close to Adityanath, had illegally sold several acres land of the akhara at Baghambari Gaddi, an ashram along the Ganga in Allahabad, to the manant’s driver, relatives and a politician. Anand Giri claimed that the trustees’ permission was not taken and no documents signed and bylaws followed before the land was sold.

“Nobody has the right to sell these properties in his individual capacity. But my guru did this, believing that nobody would dare to speak against him,” said Anand Giri, who has been living in the 300-year-old Baghambari Gaddi since 2005.

“My guru may hire killers to eliminate me. I need security,” he added.

Besides Allahabad, the Niranjani Akhara has immovable properties in Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

These plots were either bought for ashrams or donated by rich disciples.

Narendra Giri claimed that “by virtue of being the head of the Niranjani Akhara, I have every right to sell land”, a claim that can be put to question.

“I had taken the consent of senior members of our akhara before selling the land for some reason,” he added. “I have sold eight bighas and can explain the reason before the court.”

Anand Giri sought to know who were the “senior members” Narendra Giri had consulted and asked if a trustee meeting had been held. Anand Giri said a part of the land that was sold had been earlier leased in his name when the akhara took possession because of some legal issues.

“May I ask under what authority did Narendra Giri sell that land without consulting me?” he said.