Patna, (Bihar Times): The chief judicial magistrate of Gaya, Jamuna Prasad Singh, on Thursday took cognizance against the chief priest of the Mahabodhi Temple Management Committee, Bhadant Bodhipal, the former general secretary, Kallicharan Yadav and its Public Relation Officer, Bhajju Yadav in the case related to the cutting of one of the branches of the Mahabodhi Tree.

It needs to be recalled that one of the branches of the tree was found missing in July 2006. The cognizance was taken on the basis of complaint case filed by a Bodh Gaya-based monk, Arup Swami. He alleged that the branch was clandestinely cut at the order of Bhadant Bhoodipal. It charged that the branch was cut by Deepak Malakkar, one of the employees.

The court referred the matter to the Commissioner, Magadh Division, K P Rammaiah. He found the charge against the three true and submitted its report to the court on Thursday. Since the district magistrate is the ex-officio chairman of the Committee the complainant also demanded that the district magistrate be made an accused. But the court rejected his plea.

Meanwhile, the general secretary of All India Monks Association, Bhadant Anand, sought the arrest of the three people involved in the case. Smuggling of Buddha’s statues Bodh Gaya is not a new phenomenon. Now, it seems, the gang, is selling tree branches to the international market.

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