Uttarakhand Launches ‘Operation Kalnemi’ to Crack Down on Fake Sadhus; 50 Arrested Including Bangladeshi National
In a sweeping crackdown aimed at preserving the sanctity of religious traditions and protecting unsuspecting devotees, the #UttarakhandPolice have arrested 50 individuals posing as fake sadhus—including a foreign national from Bangladesh—under a special drive named #OperationKalnemi.
The operation, launched in various districts of the state over the past two days, seeks to unmask and detain imposters pretending to be spiritual saints while engaging in deceitful and criminal activities.
The drive, which coincided with the annual #KanwarYatra—a major religious pilgrimage that draws millions of devotees—was prompted by a noticeable surge in fraudulent elements exploiting the religious sentiments of the public.
The initiative has gained significant momentum under the leadership of Chief Minister #PushkarSinghDhami, who named the operation after the demon Kalnemi from the epic Ramayan. In the story, Kalnemi tried to mislead Hanuman during his quest to find the life-saving herb for Lakshman.
Senior Superintendent of Police for Dehradun, Ajay Singh, confirmed the arrests and elaborated on the modus operandi of the imposters.
“These individuals disguise themselves in saffron robes, carry religious texts, and claim to possess divine powers. They promise to solve personal problems and demand money in return. Some even go as far as stealing from devotees or engaging in other criminal behavior,” he said.
Out of the 50 individuals arrested during this statewide operation, 25 were nabbed in Dehradun alone, including a 26-year-old Bangladeshi national, identified as Rukan Rakam alias Shah Alam, who was illegally residing in India.
Many of the other arrestees were from neighboring states such as #UttarPradesh, #Haryana, and #Rajasthan.
The arrests reveal that this phenomenon cuts across religious lines: among those detained, two were Muslims, while the rest identified as Hindus. Most of the accused, excluding the Bangladeshi, were charged under sections about disturbance of public peace and were subsequently granted bail by local courts, albeit with strong warnings.
Some of those arrested tried to defend their actions. Arjun Das, hailing from Kamrup, Assam, told reporters:
“I never received formal training to become a sadhu, but I’ve lived the life of a wanderer. I admit cheating is wrong, but I was simply trying to survive. I wear saffron because I like it.”
Another arrestee, Mohan Joshi from Dausa, Rajasthan, echoed a similar sentiment:
“Even so-called genuine sadhus accept money from devotees. Why am I called fake? There are no official certificates to become a sadhu.”
Adding a controversial angle, one individual, who chose to remain anonymous, questioned the authenticity of prominent figures in religious circles:
“Many fake Mahamandaleshwars manipulate senior sadhus for titles. We all remember why the head of #AkharaParishad, Narendra Giri, committed suicide in 2021. But the authorities remain silent on those with influence and status.”
Indeed, the religious community in India has seen its fair share of controversies. The #KinnarAkhara, for example, had conferred the title of Mahamandaleshwar to former actress Mamta Kulkarni, only to retract it following widespread criticism.
The suicide of Narendra Giri, then president of the All India Akhara Parishad, allegedly under pressure and blackmail, highlighted the darker undercurrents of power and politics within spiritual circles.
Meanwhile, the #Haridwar police have also been active under this operation. Ritesh Shah, in-charge of Kotwali police station, confirmed the arrest of 13 fake sadhus in Haridwar district alone, stating that they had attempted to deceive #kanwariyas by pretending to possess divine or spiritual abilities.
Chief Minister #PushkarSinghDhami has taken a proactive role in supporting the drive.
“I recently met with senior saints across the state and sought their blessings for the success of #OperationKalnemi. It’s important we maintain the purity of our religious traditions,” he said.
However, not everyone sees the issue in black and white. Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and #Congress leader Harish Rawat shared a nuanced take on the social media platform X:
“Fear has taken over religious belief. Religion has become a show… The operation is commendable, but we must also ask: who is responsible for pushing society into superstition?”
