Man throws ink at Shankaracharya's disciple at Shirdi

Shirdi/Nashik: An unidentified person threw black ink at Swami Govindananda Sarasvati, senior disciple of Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati of Jyotish and Dwarika peeths, on Tuesday evening in Shirdi.
Govindananda was in Shirdi to meet officials of Shirdi Saibaba Temple Trust and hand over a letter given by his 'guru' to the trustees. He was under protection of the Shirdi police following orders from the Aurangabad bench of the Mumbai high court permitting him to enter the town.But, the miscreant managed to run away after throwing ink at him.
Govindananda's aid Sachin said, "Swamiji was stationed in Ahmednagar for the past two weeks as he was served a prohibitory order by Ahmednagar police under section 144 of the IPC. They had claimed that Swamiji's entry could trigger law and order problems in Shirdi. So, we appealed in the Aurangabad bench of Mumbai high court against the order. Recently, the high court issued directives and allowed Swamiji to visit Shirdi. Today, we entered Shirdi and were provided security by the local police."
Govindananda went to the office of Shirdi's Prantadhikari (sub-divisional officer). But SDO Kundankumar Sonawane was not available in the office; so, in charge SDO Tehsildar Subhash Dalvi held a meeting with Govindananda. After an hour-long meeting with Dalvi, Govindananda was about to visit the trustee office when an unidentified man appeared from the crowd and threw black ink at him. Security personnel tried to nab him but he managed to run away.
After the incident, Shirdi Police took Govindananda with them. Sources said the seer's visit to Shirdi temple was cancelled later.
Govindananda was trying to enter Shirdi and visit the trustees for the past two weeks. But he was served prohibitory notice on July 1. According to him, he wanted some clarification from Shirdi temple trust on behalf of Swaroopananda Sarasvati. Officials at Shirdi temple trust declined to comment on the issue.
Witnesses and local residents said, the man who threw ink at Govindananda must be a follower of Sai baba. As Shankaracharya Swaroopananda and his disciples are against giving deity status to Sai Baba, devotees of Sai Baba are angry with them.