Crackdown On Imposter 'Sadhus': Inside Uttarakhand's Operation Kaalnemi

Can a grain of rice tell how long you will live? No, right?

Yet, a baba sitting by the roadside in Dehradun, wearing a saffron muffler around his neck, claimed that he could predict your lifespan by tossing a few grains of rice at you.

He might have made money with this deceptive act, but this time, he was sitting across from Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajai Singh.

Even in front of an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, the baba persisted with his performance, making a last-ditch effort to escape. He threw rice grains at the SSP and claimed that if one struck the officer’s forehead, he would live for 100 years.

The SSP remained unmoved by these theatrics and continued questioning him about how much money he made from such 'magic tricks'. Ultimately, the baba was arrested.

This is just one of many incidents under Operation Kaalnemi, a campaign by Dehradun Police that has led to more than 100 arrests within days of its launch. The operation targets fraudsters masquerading as Hindu saints to exploit and deceive people. Similar arrests have taken place across Uttarakhand.

The operation was launched by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on 11 July, coinciding with the start of the holy month of Sawan, when millions of Hindus, especially kanwariyas, visit the state.

Fraudsters, mostly from outside Uttarakhand, seize the opportunity created by this surge in footfall to enter the devbhoomi and make easy money while tarnishing the reputation of Hinduism.

The state administration had anticipated this trend after receiving early complaints about anti-social elements disguised as sadhus and saints deceiving people, especially women.

"This not only hurts people's religious sentiments but also damages social harmony and the image of the Sanatan tradition. If any person of any religion is found committing such acts, strict action will be taken against them," CM Dhami said while launching the operation.

What has the operation achieved?

Since the launch of the initiative, more than 100 arrests have been made in Dehradun alone. The districts of Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar together account for over 100 additional arrests.

Interestingly, among the arrested in Dehradun, at least a dozen fraudsters are Muslims, and one of them is even a Bangladeshi national, SSP Singh told Swarajya.

The Bangladeshi citizen was identified as 26-year-old Rukan Rakam alias Shah Alam, who was living illegally in India and was arrested from the Sahaspur area of Dehradun. The police are now preparing to deport him.

Another individual, Kari Abdul Rehman, was operating in the Vikas Nagar area and extorting money from people by exploiting their fear of supernatural events.

"These Muslims were posing as Hindus to cheat people," SSP Singh explained. He added that more than 90 per cent of the arrested individuals are from other states, primarily West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Yet, it is Uttarakhand that suffers reputational damage due to their actions.

To carry out the operation, the police formed multiple teams and delegated the task of identifying fraudsters to respective Station House Officers.

Once identified, police teams approach suspicious individuals and question them about their identities, requesting official documents. If they fail this interrogation, they are taken to the police station and booked under relevant sections.

Most are charged under Section 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Samhita (BNSS) and are granted bail by the local court with a warning. However, some are charged with more serious offences depending on their actions.

The need for Operation Kaalnemi

Explaining the rationale behind the statewide crackdown, SSP Singh referred to the story of the demon Kaalnemi, who tried to stop Lord Hanuman from bringing sanjeevani to save Lakshman by disguising himself as a sage.

Kaalnemi had been tasked by Ravan to delay Hanuman during his urgent mission. Consequently, he set up a fake ashram along Hanuman’s route and offered him rest.

When Hanuman discovered the deception, he confronted and killed Kaalnemi and successfully completed his mission. SSP Singh drew a parallel with modern-day imposters disguised as saints who must be dealt with in a similar manner.

Chief Minister Dhami echoed this sentiment during the launch, saying, "Just as the demon Kaalnemi disguised himself as a sadhu to deceive others, today many 'Kaalnemis' are active in society, committing crimes under the garb of religious attire."

CM Dhami emphasised that the state government would not spare anyone spreading superstition in the name of faith. At the same time, the government would uphold the dignity of Sanatan culture and maintain social harmony.

Due to the ongoing large influx of pilgrims, the Uttarakhand government plans to continue Operation Kaalnemi not only throughout Sawan but also until the Char Dham Yatra concludes at the end of October.

Even in Badrinath, one of the Char Dham sites, the police found two suspicious babas from West Bengal after checking the documents of more than 600 sadhus, highlighting the importance of sustained efforts.

Hinduism versus other religions

Some may wonder why initiatives like this focus mainly on individuals posing as Hindu spiritual figures, while fraudulent peer babas or pastors also exist.

Firstly, the initiative is not based on religion. However, the focus has been on those posing as sadhus, taking into account Uttarakhand's local context and the ongoing Hindu pilgrimage season.

Secondly, due to its lower level of institutionalisation, Hinduism is more vulnerable to imposters than the Abrahamic religions. As a result, it requires state support for internal cleansing.

That said, Hindu religious leaders have always supported such initiatives, while similar actions against figures associated with other religions have often faced resistance in the name of protecting minority rights.

After launching Operation Kaalnemi, CM Dhami said, "I met the senior sadhus of the state on Friday and took blessings for the success of the drive," indicating their cooperation.

Mahamandaleshwar Swami Shri Yatindranand Giri Ji Maharaj visited the Chief Minister at his official residence and expressed his appreciation for the operation. He conveyed his gratitude to the state government for undertaking it.

Supporting the initiative, Mahant Ravindra Puri Maharaj, President of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, stated, "The fake saints ask for money from and cheat kanwariyas and abuse those who refuse to give money; these people should be subjected to strict action."

The Akhand Parshuram Akhada chief also welcomed the campaign, saying, "Some fake seers bring disgrace to our respected saints. The Aadhaar cards of such imposters should be checked, and only genuine saints should remain in India."

The religious intricacies

When asked how the police ensure religious sensitivities are respected during such operations, SSP Singh said they have not faced any such accusations so far.

"Whenever we approached any sadhus to inquire about their identity, they have cooperated with us and shared all necessary details. Local residents have also supported us, believing that these imposters tarnish Hinduism and that apprehending them is in Hinduism's interest," he said.

On how the police distinguish between genuine sadhus and imposters in a religion that lacks central authority, SSP Singh explained that while Hinduism does not have a central institution, it does have several sects, traditions, and ashrams.

"We ask the suspect about his lineage—whether he belongs to a particular sect, tradition, ashram or mutt. When they can name and explain their background and practices, we consider them genuine. If they fail to do so, we take action," he added.

On a lighter note, the officer shared a meme video based on a scene from Akshay Kumar’s film Jolly LLB 2, where the protagonist exposes an imposter in a courtroom. In the video, Dhami is portrayed as Akshay Kumar.

With hundreds of arrests, Operation Kaalnemi is proving to be effective. It is a timely intervention with multiple benefits. It not only protects the public from deception but also enables Hinduism to project a more authentic and respectable image.

In this context, it is hoped that other states launch similar initiatives targeting fraudulent ‘spiritual leaders’ from all religions before they grow unchecked, as seen in the case of Chhangur Baba from Uttar Pradesh’s Balrampur.