February 11, 2025: Former Bollywood actress-turned-saint Mamta Kulkarni has resigned from her position as Mahamandaleshwar of the Kinnar Akhara, weeks after being appointed to the revered post. In a video statement, Kulkarni alleged that she faced opposition from several religious figures and claimed that a sum of Rs 2 lakh was demanded from her.

Confirming the resignation, Kinnar Akhara’s Mahamandaleshwar Kaushalya Nand Giri told PTI that Kulkarni had stepped down from her role on Monday.

Kulkarni, now known as Mahamandaleshwar Yamai Mamta Nand Giri, expressed disappointment over the resistance she faced. "There was a dispute between the Kinnar Akhara and other saints regarding my appointment. I was also asked to pay Rs 2 lakh for the post," she alleged.

She further claimed that despite dedicating 25 years to spiritual penance under Chaitanya Gagan Giri Maharaj, her elevation to Mahamandaleshwar was met with strong opposition from Kinnar Kathavachak Himangi Sakhi and Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth in Uttarakhand.

Detailing the alleged financial transaction, Kulkarni said, "Rs 2 lakh was demanded in the presence of multiple Mahamandaleshwars and Jagadgurus. When I said I couldn’t pay, Mahamandaleshwar Jai Amba Giri took out the amount from his pocket and gave it to Laxmi Narayan Tripathi Ji."

Expressing her disillusionment, she added, "Perhaps my devotion to Chandi Devi is signaling me to walk away from all this."

Kulkarni, 52, had renounced worldly life at the Maha Kumbh last month, performing her own ‘Pind Daan’—a ritual typically done for ancestors—before joining the Kinnar Akhara. Soon after, she was anointed as Mahamandaleshwar.

The Kinnar Akhara, a religious order for transgender saints, operates under the Juna Akhara. Kulkarni’s abrupt resignation has triggered discussions about internal disputes and financial dealings within religious institutions.