Mumbai: In a recent episode of Rajat Sharma's India TV show ‘Aap Ki Adalat’, BJP leader and chief of Kalki Peeth - Acharya Pramod Krishnam expressed his views on female actors, stating, “for me, all female actors like Monica Bedi, or Hema Malini, or Rati Agnihotri are Devis (goddesses).” He asserted that Monica Bedi, who was arrested with gangster Abu Salem, “did not commit any crime and yet she suffered more punishment than the terrorist.”

Reflecting on his early career in the Mumbai film industry 40 years ago, he noted, “Actor toh sabhi banna chahte hain, kuch ban patey hain, kuch nahin ban patey hain.” He confirmed investing family money in films, stating, “Yes, I did not become a faqeer (mendicant) today. I was a faqeer since childhood.” He reminisced about his lyric-writing, saying, “Not tried... I wrote several lyrics,” including a song sung by Kishore Kumar.

It is to be noted that actor Monica Bedi and terrorist Abu Salem were arrested by Interpol in Portugal in 2002, where they served prison sentences for entering the country using forged documents. Two years later, a Portugal court cleared their extradition to India for Abu Salem to face trial in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts. Both of them were handed over to India in 2005. Monica Bedi was convicted of passport forgery by an Indian court in 2006. In 2010, the Supreme Court upheld her conviction but reduced her prison term to the period that she had already served.

When asked about female actors visiting his ashram, he stated, “Main in sab mein Devi Ka Darshan Karta Hoon,” referencing the belief that “Yatra Naryastu Pujyante, Tatra Ramantey Devata.” On Monica Bedi’s situation, he reiterated, “Monica Bedi ne koi gunaah nahin kiya... Monica Bedi ko Monica Bedi hone ka privilege mat do. Lekin Monica Bedi ko Monica Bedi hone ki sazaa bhi mat do.”

Acharya described his ashram as sacred, highlighting Lord Vishnu’s prophesied Kalki incarnation and recalled Hema Malini’s desire to perform a dance drama there. He also addressed the disruption by then UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, stating, “On 6 November 2016 night, Akhilesh Yadav’s government clamped restrictions... His own tent (government) got uprooted, and till today, he is yet to come back to power.”