Who is Aradhana Sakhi and the Vaishnav Kinnar Akhara

Aradhana Sakhi is a Mahamandaleshwar affiliated with the Vaishnav Kinnar Akhara, a religious institution that represents Kinnar saints who identify with Vaishnav and broader Hindu traditions. The Akhara and its leaders have been involved in recent discussions regarding the participation and recognition of Kinnar communities within Hindu religious institutions, particularly in the context of Kumbh-related developments. Supporters describe Aradhana Sakhi as a religious leader who worked among Hindu Kinnars, opposed religious conversions, engaged in cow protection activities, and intervened in cases involving Hindu girls allegedly trapped in Islamic coercive or deceptive interfaith relationships.

Allegations of targeting and arrest

Following her outspoken stand on the Shaniwar Wada issue, Hindu organizations and activists alleged that Aradhana Sakhi was targeted by the Pune Rural Police. According to claims circulated by Sakal Hindu Samaj and several activists on social media, police registered false cases against her, arrested her from her residence, and subjected her to custodial treatment. These allegations have gained traction online, but as of now, they have not received detailed coverage or confirmation from major national or regional mainstream media outlets.

Claims of inhuman custodial treatment

One of the most serious allegations raised by Hindu organizations was that Aradhana Sakhi was kept in a men’s jail despite being a Kinnar religious leader, which they described as a grave violation of dignity and constitutional safeguards. Activists termed the treatment inhuman and claimed that her suffering continued even after public outrage was expressed. While official clarifications on custody procedures and remand details have not been widely reported, the allegations raised concerns regarding selective policing and the treatment of Kinnar individuals within the criminal justice system.

Hindu organisations demand accountability

Hindu groups argued that the action against Aradhana Sakhi reflected a broader pattern in which voices questioning violations affecting Hindu religious heritage were met with swift police action, while the original provocation received a comparatively muted response. They demanded that all allegedly false cases be withdrawn, that her arrest and custody be reviewed transparently, and that accountability be fixed if procedural lapses occurred. According to them, the issue was no longer limited to one individual but had become a question of justice, dignity, and equal application of law.

Call for Maharashtra government intervention

Amid growing discontent, Hindu organizations urged the Maharashtra government to intervene immediately and ensure that due process was followed. They called upon the state Home Department to order an impartial inquiry into the arrest, remand, and custodial conditions of Aradhana Sakhi. The matter, they said, required urgent clarification from the state to restore public confidence and prevent the perception that state machinery was being misused to silence Hindu religious voices.

Appeal to the centre and the larger constitutional question

Activists also appealed to the Union government, particularly the Home Ministry, to monitor the situation and ensure that constitutional protections were not undermined. They argued that if the allegations were true, the continued prosecution of Aradhana Sakhi amounted to harassment and must be stopped without delay. For many within the Hindu community, the case symbolized a larger concern: whether standing up for Hindu civilizational and religious issues now invited punitive action, even against a Kinnar Mahamandaleshwar. In this case, they asserted, justice was essential not only for Aradhana Sakhi but also for the dignity of the entire Kinnar community.

Based on information received from Sakal Hindu Samaj, Hindu Post noted that the action against Vaishnav Kinnar Akhara Mahamandaleshwar Aradhana Sakhi was viewed by Hindu organizations as a clear case of targeted harassment for her stand against conversions and her broader work within the Hindu community. Sakal Hindu Samaj, among the organizations active on the ground in this matter, asserted that the continued prosecution and alleged inhuman treatment of a Kinnar religious leader raised serious concerns about the misuse of state machinery and the denial of basic dignity. Hindu groups reiterated that the Maharashtra government must intervene immediately, ensure transparency, and withdraw the allegedly false cases without delay, warning that silence in such matters would only deepen the erosion of trust in constitutional protections and equal justice.