Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Puri, Mar 28:

Swargadwara land has been grabbed in connivance with district administration officials’ at different points of time, alleged Govardhan Peeth spokesperson Manoj Rath addressing a press conference here.

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Even hotels, lodges etc. have been constructed on the samadhis (memorials) of 120 out of 131 Shankaracharyas in the Govardhan Peeth burial ground, Rath further alleged adding that the remaining samadhis too have been encroached upon.

Rath alleged that the 144th Shankaracharya of Govardhan Peeth Niranjan Dev Tirth had given only three decimals of land to Ram Shankar Sarangi for a tulsi garden.

But later through forgery Sarangi had sold three acres of land belonging to Govardhan Peeth, he added.