New Delhi: A recent administrative order issued by the Datia district administration in Madhya Pradesh to constitute a monitoring and assistance committee for the management of Peetambara Peeth has triggered a sharp confrontation with the temple trust, a dispute that has drawn wider attention given the shrine’s long-standing religious, political and cultural significance.
The order, issued on 5 January by Datia Collector Swapnil Wankhede, invokes Section 22 of the Madhya Pradesh Public Trusts Act, 1951, and cites public safety, crowd management, construction oversight and financial transparency as reasons for administrative intervention. The administration has argued that the scale of pilgrim footfall and ongoing construction activity within the temple complex require closer supervision in the public interest.
The Peetambara Peeth is regarded as one of the most important Shakti shrines in central India and is primarily dedicated to Goddess Baglamukhi, one of the ten Mahavidyas of the Shakta tradition. Established in its present form in the 1920s, the shrine is believed by devotees to possess powerful spiritual and tantric significance. Worship at the peeth is traditionally associated with protection, victory over adversaries and relief from crises, beliefs that have drawn not only ordinary devotees but also a steady stream of political leaders, bureaucrats and public figures over several decades.
Within political circles, the temple is widely spoken of as a place sought out during periods of personal or political crisis. Senior BJP leader Vasundhara Raje, who is widely associated with the temple trust, is among the most prominent political figures linked to the shrine. During the Lalit Modi controversy, Raje had visited the peeth, where priests conducted special rituals on her behalf. People familiar with the events have said she turned to the shrine at a time of intense political pressure.
Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his wife Sadhna Singh are also known to be regular visitors to the peeth. According to individuals familiar with temple practices, the couple has frequented the shrine since Chouhan first became chief minister. During periods of political turbulence, including developments related to the Vyapam case, there has been speculation within political circles about special rituals being sought at the temple, though no official confirmation has been made.
The shrine has also been visited by former Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh, who participated in rituals when his wife Veena Singh was ill. After her recovery, Singh publicly stated that he believed the blessings of the peeth had played a role. Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt had similarly visited the temple in April 2013, arriving by chartered aircraft when his trial in the illegal arms possession case was nearing its conclusion.
The newly appointed working president of the BJP, Nitin Nabin had prayed at the temple just five days before his name was announced as the new party president.
Political figures cutting across party lines have also been linked to the shrine. Former Odisha chief minister Giridhar Gamang participated in an hour-long ritual at the peeth before returning to Odisha and formally joining the BJP. Priests and temple associates say leaders from both the BJP and the Congress, including Uma Bharti, Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath Singh, Digvijaya Singh, and Jyotiraditya Scindia, have visited the peeth at different times. RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav is also said by associates to have arranged week-long rituals at the shrine during the fodder scam period, a claim rooted in belief rather than official record.
Priests associated with the temple describe the peeth as a centre for specialised tantric rituals, particularly those believed to neutralise adversaries and remove obstacles. They say requests for such rituals increase sharply during Navratri, considered the most auspicious period, and that at almost any given time some political figure’s ritual is underway. These claims are matters of faith and tradition rather than verifiable fact.
Against this backdrop, the recent administrative order has assumed heightened sensitivity.
A key justification cited by the district administration is a structural incident on the night of 19 November 2025, when several pillars of a newly constructed structure near one of the entry gates collapsed inside the temple complex. Officials said the collapse caused panic among devotees present at the time, though no casualties were reported.
The incident prompted inspections and temporary restrictions on access to the affected area, raising concerns about construction quality and safety protocols at a high-footfall religious site.
Attempts to contact Wankhede , a 2016 batch officer, failed as all the numbers listed against his name on the official site were out of order.
Section 22 of the Madhya Pradesh Public Trusts Act, 1951, under which the order was issued, empowers authorities to issue directions or take corrective measures if the functioning of a public trust is deemed prejudicial to the interests of the trust, its beneficiaries or the general public. Officials argue that the provision allows limited supervisory intervention without dissolving the trust or taking over its assets.
Sources said that the trust has strongly objected to the move, alleging that the administration is attempting to enter its internal affairs under the guise of monitoring. Sources close to the trust said preparations are underway to challenge the order in court, arguing that the conditions required for invoking Section 22 have not been met. As per some, the real motive behind this act was to remove the influence of Vasundhara Raje from the temple administration.
