Activist Trupti Desai stopped from entering Shani Shingnapur Temple despite HC order, detained

New Delhi: The Maharashtra Police on Saturday detained activist Trupti Desai while she was trying to enter the Shani Shingnapur Temple in Ahmednagar district of the state along with other Bhumata Brigade supporters. 

The development came just days after the Bombay High Court allowed women's entry into the temple, which was banned earlier.

The detention followed clashes between Bhumata Brigade members and locals, who were preventing their entry into the inner sanctum. Earlier, NCP workers also protested outside the temple against women activists' entry into the temple. 

Desai, who has been spearheading the protest demanding entry into the temple, has threatened to file an FIR against Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and others for stopping her from entering the temple. 

"We are not going to turn around and if need be we will file an FIR against HM and CM. What is the police doing? They were directed to provide protection to us by the Court," said Desai.

Several members of the Bhumata Mahila Brigade were stopped by local police from entering the temple on Friday also. The women were asked to show court order before entering the temple premises.

In a landmark verdict, the Bombay High Court on Friday had declared that no law prevents women from entering places of worship. 

The court, in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Vidya Bal and Nilima Varta, said there should be no gender discrimination as far as entering a place of worship is concerned.

#WATCH Stand off between Bhumata brigade and the locals at #ShaniShinganapur temple complexhttps://t.co/WJNkQw2uvF &; ANI (@ANI_news) April 2, 2016