Pooja Shakun Pandey: Profile, Bio, Age, Boyfriend and Family

Introduction & Early Life

Pooja Shakun Pandey (alias Sadhvi Annapurna or Annapurna Bharti) is a controversial figure in Indian socio-religious politics, known for her outspoken Hindutva ideology and frequent involvement in communal controversies. She holds the position of national secretary of the All India Hindu Mahasabha. (Hindutva Profiles)

Precise public records about her early life, family, and formative years are limited in mainstream media. According to feature reports, she was born in a devout Brahmin household in Hisar, Haryana. (ThePrint) Before entering the arena of public religious activism, she purportedly led a relatively conventional domestic life. (ThePrint) Later, she made a radical transformation, renouncing conventional family roles and adopting the saffron robe as “Sadhvi Annapurna” around 2017. (ThePrint)

In her personal narrative, she has spoken of having had multiple pregnancies and children prior to adopting her religious identity, but media sources often treat those claims with caution given the lack of verification. (ThePrint)

Transition into Activism & Hindutva Ideology

From Private to Public Life

Pooja’s transformation from a private life into religious activism is marked by her renunciation (sannyas) around 2017. She reportedly underwent rituals—declaring her old life dead—and embraced a life dedicated to what she frames as “Hindu resurgence.” (ThePrint)

In her own words, she relinquished personal relationships and material life to devote herself fully to a political-religious mission. (ThePrint) As she put it, “my last breath is devoted to making [this mission] successful.” (ThePrint)

Soon after, she aligned herself with the Hindu Mahasabha and began rising in visibility through speeches, social media, and organizing events. (Hindutva Profiles)

Roles & Affiliations

National Secretary, All India Hindu Mahasabha — She plays an organizational role in one of India’s older Hindutva organizations. (Hindutva Profiles)
Mahamandleshwar (senior leader) within the Niranjani Akhara — She is sometimes referred to as holding this position within the spiritual monastic body. (Hindutva Profiles)
She is also connected with various event platforms like Dharma Sansad (religious assemblies) and propagates a militant Hindu nationalism narrative. (Hindutva Profiles)

Through these roles, she has attempted to build a public persona as a “Hindu warrior” voice, invoking aggressive rhetoric around religion, conversions, minority communities, and calls to arms. (Hindutva Profiles)

Key Controversies & Public Incidents

Pooja Shakun Pandey is best known (or notorious) for a string of controversies involving hate speech, provocative acts, and, most recently, allegations of involvement in a murder case. Below is a timeline of notable controversies:

Gandhi Effigy Shooting / Re- enactment (2019)

One of her earliest major controversies came in January 2019, when she “recreated” the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi by shooting an effigy. She claimed that this would become an annual tradition akin to burning Ravana on Dussehra. (www.ndtv.com)

The stunt triggered public outrage, lawsuits, and police action. She was among the 13 accused in a related criminal case. (www.ndtv.com)

In interviews, she declared:

“If I was born before Godse, I would have killed Gandhi with my own hands.” (Hindutva Profiles)

This episode established her as a prominent voice in hardline Hindutva activism.

Communal & Hate Speech Allegations

Over the years, Pooja has made statements targeting Muslim communities and religious practices:

In 2022, she penned a letter (written in her own blood, by her claim) addressed to the President of India demanding curbs on Friday (Jummah) congregational prayers, labeling Friday as a day of terrorism. (The Wire)
This letter (and her rhetoric) led to an FIR being registered under sections such as 153A, 153B, 295A, 298, 505 of the IPC. (The Wire)
At the Hindu Dharma Sansad in Haridwar (December 2021), she reportedly gave incendiary speeches calling for mass killings of Muslims, urging participants to pick up arms. (Hindutva Profiles)
She has also been criticized for promoting anti-Muslim statements about “entry prohibitions” in mosques, and for allegedly demanding conversion of Muslim women who were victims of triple talaq as a “path to justice.” (Hindutva Profiles)
In 2020, she urged the Prime Minister to declare a “shoot at sight” order for Tablighi Jamaat members during the COVID-19 outbreak, which led to a criminal case for promoting enmity between groups. (Hindutva Profiles)

Some civil society organizations have categorized her as a repeat “hate offender” or “hate monger,” citing impunity from effective state enforcement. (CJP)

Recent High-Profile Murder Allegation (2025)

The most serious and current development involves the murder of a bike-showroom owner, Abhishek Gupta, in Aligarh in late September 2025. (www.ndtv.com)

Incident & Allegations

On September 23, 2025, Gupta was shot dead near a bus stop in Aligarh while returning from the showroom with his family. (www.ndtv.com)
His father alleged that Abhishek was in a relationship with Pooja Shakun Pandey and that she had pressured him to marry her or partner her in business. (www.ndtv.com)
After Abhishek began distancing himself — including blocking her phone — allegations are that Pooja, along with her husband Ashok Pandey, conspired to have him killed. (www.ndtv.com)
One of the alleged shooters, Fazal, has been arrested, and investigators claim that Pooja and her husband had several calls with Fazal and another accomplice in the months leading up to the crime. (www.ndtv.com)
Ashok Pandey has been arrested in connection with the murder. (ThePrint)
Pooja Shakun Pandey is currently reported to be on the run as police search for her whereabouts. (www.ndtv.com)

The case has drawn national attention because it involves a religious leader, alleged misuse of power, and personal relationships crossing over into violent crime. (www.ndtv.com)

As of now, investigations are ongoing, and legal outcomes are uncertain. (www.ndtv.com)

Public Persona, Strategy & Ideological Stance

Pooja Shakun Pandey projects herself as a staunch defender of Hindus, often invoking apocalyptic language about protecting Hindu women, children, and cultural identity from perceived threats. (ThePrint)

She frequently merges religious rhetoric with political activism: her speeches often blend calls for a “Hindu Rashtra,” denunciations of minorities, and militant posturing. (ThePrint)

Her tactic appears to revolve around provocations, spectacle, and media visibility — for instance, staging dramatic acts (like the Gandhi effigy) or writing sensational letters in her own blood. These acts generate media attention and reinforce her aura among supporters. (CJP)

She also emphasizes women’s activism in militant terms — urging women to take swords and not simply remain domestic (“belan in one hand, sword in the other”) in some speeches. (Hindutva Profiles)

Observers argue that her rising profile is partly built on amplifying fear narratives and guilt by association, i.e., framing every act by minority communities as existential threats. (CJP)

Recent Developments & Legal Status (2025)

The murder case of Abhishek Gupta is the most pressing current development. As the prime accused and being absconding, Pooja is under intense scrutiny by authorities. (www.ndtv.com)
Police have arrested Ashok Pandey, her husband, and one shooter (Fazal). (ThePrint)
Media reports suggest that Pooja’s communication patterns with accused persons, CCTV evidence, and phone records are being examined. (www.ndtv.com)
In light of associations with multiple communal cases, civil society organizations are renewing calls for more rigorous monitoring of hate speech and for preventive action. (CJP)
As of now, no public updates confirm her arrest or court appearance. The story is developments as law enforcement tracks her whereabouts. (www.ndtv.com)

Given the gravity of the allegations, this case may become a litmus test for how the Indian judiciary handles politically connected religious figures accused of violent crime.

Impact, Criticism & Public Perception

Pooja Shakun Pandey’s rise has drawn fierce criticism from civil rights groups, journalists, and sections of the public. Some of the recurring criticisms include:

Promotion of hate speech — She is frequently cited by watchdogs as a repeat offender in communal statements and lethal rhetoric. (CJP)
State impunity — Critics allege that despite her numerous controversial statements and activities, she often evades law enforcement accountability, indicating a broader issue of selective enforcement. (CJP)
Mob-mind tactics — Her speeches and acts are seen as attempts to polarize tensions, incite communal sentiment, and push margins of permissible discourse. (ThePrint)
Credibility of narratives — Observers question the veracity of her personal claims, anti-Muslim narratives, and the appeals she makes to fear and identity.

However, among her supporters and core audiences, she is seen as a bold female figure fighting for Hindu identity, an outsider in the realm of religious politics, and a “voice of Hindu women.” Her gendered imagery is often leveraged to show that even women must pick up arms or stand up in defense of faith in her worldview. (ThePrint)

Challenges Ahead & Legal Risks

The criminal case in Aligarh presents major challenges:

If evidence such as phone records, contact history, statements of arrested accomplices hold, Pooja may face severe charges such as murder, conspiracy, and intimidation.
Her status as a religious leader may trigger debates over judicial fairness, political pressure, and accountability of religious activists.
In concurrently active communal cases, courts may demand clarity on speech limits, preventive orders, and the enforcement of law against influential agitators.

Given her fugitive status, there is also the risk of tension between public sentiment and police action, especially as media attention intensifies.

Top Interesting Facts About Pooja Shakun Pandey

Alias & Saffron Identity: She is often known by the alias Sadhvi Annapurna and sometimes referred to by “Annapurna Bharti.” (CJP)
Dramatic Symbolism: She has used shock symbolism—e.g., writing letters in blood, staging Gandhi assassination re-enactments—intentionally to provoke coverage. (CJP)
Gendered Messaging: Her rhetoric often blends gender imagery, encouraging women to adopt militant posture (“sword in one hand, belan in another”) in her speeches. (ThePrint)
Association with Mahasabha & Akhara: She holds formal roles in both the political outfit Hindu Mahasabha and the Niranjani Akhara monastic body, which is a relatively rare crossover of political and spiritual authority. (Hindutva Profiles)
Early Organizational Move: Before becoming a full-time activist, she was reportedly associated with an NGO called AHSAS (Azad Hind Social Alleviation Society)—registered in her father’s name. (ThePrint)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What is her official position within Hindu Mahasabha?
A: She is a national secretary of the All India Hindu Mahasabha. (Hindutva Profiles)

Q2: Has she ever been arrested?
A: Yes, she was briefly arrested in connection to some communal remarks (for instance in 2020 over comments about Tablighi Jamaat). (Hindutva Profiles) Also, during the Gandhi effigy incident in 2019, she faced criminal charges. (www.ndtv.com)

Q3: Why was she in the news recently?
A: Because she is one of the prime accused in the alleged murder of businessman Abhishek Gupta in Aligarh (September 2025). Her husband has been arrested; she is reportedly on the run. (The Times of India)

Q4: What are the major controversies she has been involved in?
A: Some major controversies include:

Recreating the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi (2019) and promoting that annually. (www.ndtv.com)
Hate speech and anti-Muslim rhetoric (e.g. demands to ban Friday prayers, calls for mass violence at Haridwar). (The Wire)
Suggesting “shoot at sight” orders for Tablighi Jamaat members during COVID-19. (Hindutva Profiles)

Q5: What is her legal status now?
A: As of the latest reports, she is on the run and has not been arrested in the Abhishek Gupta case, while her husband is in custody. (www.ndtv.com)

Q6: What is the public perception of her?
A: She is polarizing: hailed by some as a fearless voice defending Hindu interests, while denounced by many others, including civil rights groups, for incitement of communal hatred and undermining social harmony.

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