Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress in-charge Kumari Selja and senior state Congress leaders during a sit-in protest at the Chief Minister’s residence demanding action against those responsible for the ‘purification’ ritual conducted at Haldwani’s Ramlila Maidan following Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s rally. File
| Photo Credit: ANI
Almost a month after ‘shuddhikaran’ (purification) ritual conducted at Haldwani’s Ramlila ground following a rally addressed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on August 8, the Nainital Police on Tuesday (September 8, 2026) lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against ‘unknown persons’ for the conduct.
On August 11, members of the Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas Sangathan conducted a ‘shuddhikaran yagna’ (purification yagna) at the venue. Video of the ritual went viral on social media in which all the participants were visible performing the hawan. A few of them also interacted with the media post the event.
Nainital Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Manjunath TC told the media that the FIR was registered against unknown persons on the complaint of Congress worker Anju, who, according to him, was the first person to submit a complaint in connection with the matter.
“We have received various petitions and complaints in this matter….this was also one of them. The FIR was lodged after due diligence,” said the SSP, adding that investigation in the matter would be done by Superintendent of Police (Crime) Jagdish Chandra.
He added that the case had been registered under Sections 196 and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 3(1)(R) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The development comes after the Congress had repeatedly demanded police action against those who performed purification of the rally venue of party’s national president alleging that the same was done because Mr. Kharge belonged to Dalit community.
The organisers have denied that the ceremony was directed at Mr. Kharge or had any caste motive.
Last week, the police had also lodged a case against Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on Haldwani’s ‘purification’ ritual, with a Scheduled Caste complainant alleging that the comments hurt his sentiments.
The FIR was registered on a complaint by Vinod Kumar Arya and Amit Kumar, who are associated with the Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas. Mr. Kumar is a member of the Scheduled Caste community.
Mr. Kharge also raised the matter in the Rajya Sabha in the recent monsoon session, demanding cases under laws dealing with untouchability against those who carried out the purification ceremony and calling for their arrest and imprisonment.
Last week, BJP State president Mahendra Bhatt once again stroked the controversy around the ritual after he supported the act and alleged that the same was done as ‘slogans’ were raised at the venue which had polluted the place associated with Lord Ram.
The FIR registration comes after reports suggested that Mr. Gandhi will be in Uttarakhand on September 11 and 12.
Published – September 09, 2026 12:27 am IST
