In a major crackdown on impostors exploiting religious sentiments, Uttarakhand Police have arrested a total of 82 fake babas from Dehradun district under the newly launched ‘Operation Kalanemi’. The special drive, initiated on the instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, aims to identify and take legal action against individuals fraudulently posing as sadhus and saints to deceive the public.
Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Singh informed that the operation was launched on Thursday and has resulted in swift and extensive action across the district. On Sunday alone, 34 individuals masquerading as religious figures were arrested, of which 23 were found to be residents of other states. Over the past three days, police teams have apprehended 82 such individuals from various areas in Dehradun.
Among those arrested is a Bangladeshi national, identified as Rukn Rakam alias Shah Alam, who was detained from the Sahaspur area on Friday. Authorities are investigating further into his background and any potential links to broader networks of fraud.
“These individuals were misleading and cheating people in the name of religion, and legal proceedings have been initiated against them under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS),” SSP Singh said. He added that multiple police teams have been deployed to areas where inputs were received about such impostors taking advantage of public faith.
The timing of the operation is particularly significant, as the state is currently witnessing the annual Char Dham Yatra and Kanwar Yatra, during which large numbers of devotees from across India visit Uttarakhand. According to police, these religious events often see a spike in the activities of such fake babas, who exploit pilgrims through deceitful practices and spiritual scams.
SSP Singh confirmed that the operation would continue with full intensity, with a special focus on maintaining law and order and ensuring the sanctity of religious places. “We are committed to acting against those who play with people’s sentiments in the name of spirituality,” he said.
Chief Minister Dhami, while launching the campaign, drew a sharp parallel with the mythological demon Kalanemi, who disguised himself as a saint to mislead others. “Just as the ‘asur’ Kalanemi tried to mislead people by appearing as a saint, there are many such ‘Kalanemis’ in today’s society who are committing crimes in the name of religion,” Dhami said, reaffirming the government’s zero-tolerance stance on such deceitful acts.
The Uttarakhand Police have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities or individuals claiming false spiritual authority. The campaign has been welcomed by many as a much-needed step toward restoring faith in genuine religious practices and protecting innocent devotees from fraud.
