SHO allegedly mixes 'ash' in Maha Kumbh pilgrims' food, suspended after video sparks outrage

Maha Kumbh

The Station House Officer (SHO) of Prayagraj’s Soraon police station, Brijesh Tiwari, has been suspended for allegedly mixing “ash” in the food prepared for pilgrims at a bhandara late on Thursday night.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, while sharing the video of the incident on X (formerly Twitter), demanded action and wrote: “It is unfortunate that the noble efforts of those providing food and water for the people stranded at the Maha Kumbh are being undermined due to political animosity.”

- ! pic.twitter.com/LTwwKbBwO5 Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) January 30, 2025

According to a Times of India report, SHO BK Tiwari was angered over the bhandara being organised without police permission. The bhandara was set up for devotees near Bhavapur Toll Plaza Road, where meals were being prepared for those heading towards the Sangam.

The police had stopped several vehicles carrying devotees towards Prayagraj. As a result, many devotees walked towards the Sangam on foot, prompting locals to step in and arrange the necessary materials to prepare food.

The SHO allegedly asked the locals to vacate the area, but they refused. Tiwari then poured ash into one of the cooking vessels. The video of the incident soon went viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage.

The incident came to the attention of senior officials of the Prayagraj Commissionerate after the video surfaced online on Thursday evening. A probe was immediately ordered, with the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Soraon, tasked with the investigation.

In his preliminary report, the ACP found the SHO guilty of misconduct. Acting on the findings, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Trans Ganga, Kuldeep Singh, ordered the suspension of SHO Brijesh Tiwari and instructed the ACP to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.