A new video from the famous Thakur Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan went viral on social media, leading to allegations that ASP Anuj Chaudhary had misbehaved with temple sevayat Goswami Sohit. Earlier, another video featuring storyteller Mridul Kant Shastri also surfaced, accusing the police of inappropriate behaviour. However, a formal clarification issued on Monday denied both allegations.

The situation unfolded during the Sanatan Ekta Padayatra of Bageshwar Dham’s Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, which began in Delhi and concluded on Sunday at Banke Bihari Temple. ASP Anuj Chaudhary was overseeing security for the four-day march in Mathura district.

Allegations surfaced that as the padayatra moved towards the temple, police personnel behaved rudely with locals from Braj and even tore their clothes, resulting in a brief scuffle. Mridul Kant Shastri shared a video complaining about the police’s harsh behaviour, stating that while locals were cooperating, the police were creating disorder.

A second video from inside the temple added fuel to the controversy. It was claimed that as Dhirendra Krishna Shastri entered through the VIP gate, sevayat Goswami Sohit approached with a puja thali and garland but was denied entry. The accusations further alleged that ASP Chaudhary forcefully pulled him back, treating him “like a criminal.”

While the video spread rapidly online, its authenticity could not be independently verified. Himanshu, another temple Goswami, strongly criticized the police action and claimed there was anger among the Goswami community over the incident.

However, on Monday, temple representative Dinesh Goswami presented a completely different version. He stated that only five people were pre-approved to accompany Shastri inside the temple, yet several outsiders and YouTubers tried to force entry. According to him, ASP Chaudhary and the security team acted appropriately to restore order after multiple warnings. He clarified that no sevayat or Goswami was mistreated.

Similarly, Mridul Kant Shastri, who had earlier accused the police of rough behaviour due to his torn armband, revised his stance a day later. On Monday, he stated that the padayatra was smooth, the darshan was successful, and the administration cooperated fully. He emphasized that the purpose of the event was the unity of Sanatani Hindus.