Akhilesh Yadav Says ‘Should Have Sent Him to Jail’; Regrets Withdrawing 420 Case Against Jagadguru Rambhadracharya

Lucknow, February 23, 2026: In a sharp political statement that has stirred fresh controversy in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said it was a “mistake” to withdraw a Section 420 case earlier registered against Jagadguru Rambhadracharya, adding that he “should have been sent to jail.”

Addressing the media in Lucknow, Yadav launched a direct attack not only on the seer but also on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, accusing the state government of selective targeting and political vendetta.

Support for Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati

The SP president expressed solidarity with Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, claiming that the seer had been made to sit on protest for days in Prayagraj during extreme winter conditions.

“In our Sanatan tradition, it is unimaginable to prevent a saint from taking a holy dip. For the first time, a saint was stopped. Now, to humiliate him, the government is bringing up a 20-year-old incident,” Yadav said.

Regret Over Withdrawal of 420 Case

Referring to the earlier cheating case (Section 420 of the IPC) against Rambhadracharya, Yadav admitted that during his tenure, the case had been withdrawn.

“I made a mistake. The case was withdrawn. He should have been sent to jail,” Yadav remarked, reiterating his regret.

He further added that ideological differences are natural in a democracy but alleged that “such low-level accusations should not be made.” He also commented that if the complainant in the case happens to be Rambhadracharya’s disciple, it is unfortunate.

Attack on Deputy CM

Yadav also targeted Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak over an event honoring young priests (batuks).

“When they were allegedly insulted by pulling their ‘shikha’, where were the BJP leaders?” he questioned, accusing the ruling party of hypocrisy.

PDA Movement Gains Momentum

Highlighting the SP’s PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) plank, Yadav said that as public distress increases, the movement representing backward classes, Dalits, and minorities is becoming stronger.

“The Samajwadi Party stands firmly with the Dalit, deprived, and oppressed sections of society,” he asserted.

The remarks are likely to intensify political tensions in Uttar Pradesh, with reactions expected from both religious leaders and the ruling BJP in the coming days.