Police complaints filed against Rahul Gandhi, Pappu Yadav over Parliament Ram Temple act
Synopsis
A Parliament-premises act in which Purnia MP Pappu Yadav dressed as a monk and dramatised alleged Ram Temple donation theft has triggered police complaints in Varanasi and Delhi, protests by the VHP, and demands for FIRs against both Yadav and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi — escalating a political controversy into a religious flashpoint.
Key Takeaways
Seers and lawyers filed police complaints in Varanasi on 1 August against Rahul Gandhi and Pappu Yadav for allegedly hurting Hindu religious sentiments.
Purnia MP Pappu Yadav dressed as a monk at the Parliament complex on Friday and enacted the alleged embezzlement of Ayodhya Ram Temple donations.
A separate complaint was filed at Jahangirpuri Police Station, New Delhi by petitioner Surya Maithil on the same day.
Jagadguru Balak Das Devacharya of Patalpuri Math warned of large-scale seer protests if legal action is not taken.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and other Hindu outfits held demonstrations across the country against the act.
As of 1 August , no FIR had been publicly confirmed; Varanasi police said the complaint currently names only Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav .
Seers and lawyers in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on Saturday, 1 August, filed police complaints against Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Independent MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, accusing them of hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus. The complaints followed an act staged at the Parliament complex on Friday, in which Pappu Yadav dressed as a monk and enacted the alleged embezzlement of donations at Ayodhya's Ram Temple.
What Happened at Parliament
Purnia MP Pappu Yadav arrived at the Parliament premises dressed in saffron robes on Friday and staged a dramatisation of the alleged theft of donations made to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Several opposition leaders, including Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, reportedly played a cameo role in the act. The performance drew immediate backlash from religious groups and legal bodies.
Complaints Filed in Varanasi
Two separate complaints were lodged in Varanasi — one by seers at the Kotwali police station and another by lawyers. Both named the parliamentarians for allegedly hurting Hindu religious sentiments.
Jagadguru Balak Das Devacharya, head priest of Patalpuri Math, said: 'Through the act carried out by Pappu Yadav outside the Parliament House, he has insulted the saffron robe, the saint community, and also Lord Ram. A complaint has been lodged against all the opposition leaders involved... A demand has been made that legal action be taken against them otherwise the seer community will stage large-scale protests.'
Gaurav Banswal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Kashi Zone), confirmed receipt of the complaint, noting: 'Some videos have surfaced on social media which show MP Rajesh Ranjan dressed up as a monk while being engaged (in an act) at the Parliament premises. They (seers) have submitted a written complaint against the act alleging that religious sentiments have been hurt.' He added that, for the present, the complaint names only Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav.
Lawyers Join the Protest
Lawyers in Varanasi staged a demonstration against Pappu Yadav and submitted a written complaint to the Cantonment police demanding action against both the Purnia MP and Rahul Gandhi.
Advocate Vineet Kumar Singh said: 'We have lodged a complaint over what we believe was an insult to Sanatan Dharma that took place in the Parliament yesterday. We have sought the registration of a case against Pappu Yadav and Rahul Gandhi. We submitted a written complaint, not merely a memorandum, to the Cantonment police authorities.'
Complaint in Delhi and Nationwide Protests
A separate complaint was filed on Friday at Jahangirpuri Police Station in New Delhi by petitioner Surya Maithil, accusing Pappu Yadav of hurting religious sentiments during the Parliament complex act. Separately, seers and Hindu outfits — including the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) — held demonstrations across several parts of the country against Yadav for allegedly 'insulting Sanatan Dharma'.
As of 1 August, police in Varanasi were reviewing the complaints. No formal First Information Report (FIR) had been publicly confirmed at the time of reporting. Whether the matter escalates into a registered case will depend on the assessment of the complaints by local authorities.
Point of View
Since parliamentary privilege muddies the jurisdictional waters. But the complaints filed in Varanasi and Delhi signal that the opposition may have underestimated the religious blowback. The VHP's rapid nationwide mobilisation suggests this will not stay a legal matter for long. The deeper question mainstream coverage is missing: whether the alleged Ram Temple donation irregularities that prompted the act are themselves being examined, or whether the controversy over the dramatisation has now completely eclipsed the underlying accountability issue.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Parliament act that triggered the police complaints?
On Friday, Purnia MP Pappu Yadav dressed in saffron robes at the Parliament complex and staged a dramatisation of the alleged embezzlement of donations made to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Several opposition leaders, including Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, reportedly participated in a cameo role, drawing immediate protests from religious groups.
Where were police complaints filed against Rahul Gandhi and Pappu Yadav?
Complaints were filed at Varanasi's Kotwali police station by seers and at the Cantonment police station by lawyers on 1 August. A separate complaint was also lodged at Jahangirpuri Police Station in New Delhi on Friday by petitioner Surya Maithil.
Has an FIR been registered against Rahul Gandhi or Pappu Yadav?
As of 1 August, no formal FIR had been publicly confirmed. Varanasi's DCP Gaurav Banswal stated that the current written complaint names only Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, and police were reviewing the submissions.
Who else has protested against the Parliament act?
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and several other Hindu outfits held demonstrations in multiple parts of the country. Jagadguru Balak Das Devacharya of Patalpuri Math warned that the seer community would stage large-scale protests if legal action is not taken against those involved.
What is the alleged Ram Temple donation theft that the act referenced?
The act dramatised allegations of embezzlement of donations made to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The source material does not detail the specific allegations or any ongoing investigation into the matter; the act was the opposition's way of raising the issue publicly.
