A god man, claiming to be the Shankaracharya of the Jyotirmath Peeth in Badrinath, has accused another Shankaracharya's followers of stealing from the monastery premises.

Swami Vasudevananda Saraswati on Tuesday said followers of Swami Swarupananda Saraswati stole ornaments of Goddess Purnagiri and silver utensils when the Peeth was under a lockout.

Vasudevananda said a first information report has been filed with the Joshimath police station.

• Complete Coverage: The Kanchi Shankaracharya controversy

Swarupananda is the Shankaracharya of Dwaraka, one of the four Peeths set up by Adi Shankaracharya in the eighth century.

Vasudevananda alleged that the decision of the local administration to declare a lockout at the Peeth was 'politically motivated' and at the behest of Swaroopananda.

Vasudevananda was flanked by Manohar Kant Dhyani, former president of Uttaranchal Bharatiya Janata Party, and other local BJP leaders.