The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has ordered the freezing of the bank accounts of 17 individuals, including Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former member, according to a report published on Friday. This week, on suspicion of sedition, Chinmoy Krishna Das was taken into custody at the Dhaka airport. The move comes after a lawyer was slain in a fight between the followers of the Hindu leader and police forces, and the Dhaka high court denied a petition to ban ISKCON.

According to the report, banks and other financial institutions received instructions from the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) on Thursday to halt transactions on these accounts for a period of 30 days.  Within the following three working days, banks were directed by the Central Bangladesh Bank's BFIU to submit updated transaction statements for the accounts linked to these people, including those connected to their businesses.

While ISKCON has distanced itself from Das since his departure from the organization years ago, the scandal has cast a shadow over its reputation in Bangladesh. The organization has reiterated its commitment to transparency and accountability, emphasizing that Das acted independently of ISKCON's activities.

"We are deeply saddened by these allegations but want to clarify that Chinmoy Das has not been associated with ISKCON for a considerable time. We fully support the authorities in their investigation," an ISKCON representative said in a statement.

The arrests and subsequent financial actions have sparked widespread discussion in Bangladesh, with public opinion divided. Some view the crackdown as a necessary step to curb misuse of religious donations, while others urge caution in associating the alleged misconduct of individuals with broader religious or spiritual communities.

Legal experts suggest that if proven guilty, the accused could face severe penalties, including imprisonment, fines, and the confiscation of assets. The government has also hinted at reviewing regulations governing religious donations to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The investigation into Chinmoy Das and his associates is ongoing, with authorities examining digital and physical records to trace the full extent of the alleged financial crimes. Meanwhile, the public and religious community await further developments as the case unfolds, highlighting the need for integrity and accountability in all spheres of society.